Saturday, October 15, 2011

Longtime Motorola CEO Robert Galvin dies at 89

FILE - In this Thursday, April 3, 1997 file photo, President Jiang Zemin, left, shakes hands with Robert Galvin, chairman of the executive committee of Motorola Inc., during their meeting at Zhongnanhai in Beijing. Galvin, who over nearly three decades as Motorola's CEO transformed the maker of police radios and TVs into one of the world's leading electronics companies, has died. He was 89. Galvin died Tuesday night, Oct. 11, 2011 in Chicago of natural causes, his family said. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Liu Jianguo)

FILE - In this Thursday, April 3, 1997 file photo, President Jiang Zemin, left, shakes hands with Robert Galvin, chairman of the executive committee of Motorola Inc., during their meeting at Zhongnanhai in Beijing. Galvin, who over nearly three decades as Motorola's CEO transformed the maker of police radios and TVs into one of the world's leading electronics companies, has died. He was 89. Galvin died Tuesday night, Oct. 11, 2011 in Chicago of natural causes, his family said. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Liu Jianguo)

FILE - In this Dec. 19, 1991 file photo, President George Bush meets with business executives at the White House. They will travel with Bush on a 10-day trip to Asia. From left are Bush, Robert Galvin, Motorola Inc., and Robert Stempel, General Motors. Others are unidentified. Galvin, who over nearly three decades as Motorola's CEO transformed the maker of police radios and TVs into one of the world's leading electronics companies, has died. He was 89. Galvin died Tuesday night, Oct. 11, 2011 in Chicago of natural causes, his family said. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

(AP) ? Robert Galvin, who over nearly three decades as Motorola's CEO transformed the maker of police radios and TVs into one of the world's leading electronics companies, has died. He was 89.

Galvin died Tuesday night in Chicago of natural causes, his family said.

Galvin oversaw Motorola's pioneering efforts in the cellular industry, including the creation of the first commercial cellphone in 1973 and the construction of the first cellphone network in the early 80s.

"He probably single-handedly provided this firm with more leadership and guided it through more innovation than any other single person in our 83-year history," said Greg Brown, CEO of Motorola Solutions Inc., the half of the old Motorola that sells communications equipment to government and corporate customers.

Galvin was named CEO in 1959 at the death his father, Paul Galvin, who had founded the company in 1928. Robert Galvin, known as "Bob," remained in the post until 1986 and stayed on as chairman until 1990. He retired from the board of directors in 2001.

Galvin led the company into China with a $100 million investment in 1987. The country is still a major market for its phones. He helped create the Six Sigma quality system at Motorola, since adopted by many other companies.

"Bob saw around corners. He anticipated," Brown said.

Motorola Inc. split into two companies in January. Motorola Solutions makes police radios, bar code scanners and other products for corporate and government customers. Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. makes cellphones, and has agreed to be acquired by Google Inc.

In retirement, Galvin founded an investment firm with his sons and established two think tanks focused on energy and transportation issues.

He wrote two books on the influence of the Scottish Enlightment on the founders of the United States and published a compilation of the business philosophies that shaped Motorola.

Galvin was born in 1922 in Marshfield, Wis. He attended high school in Evanston, Ill., and attended the University of Notre Dame. He started working full time at Motorola in 1944, when it was still called Galvin Manufacturing.

Galvin is survived by his wife, Mary Barnes Galvin, four children ? Gail Galvin Ellis, Dawn Galvin Meiners, and Christopher and Michael Galvin ? 13 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

A wake is scheduled for Monday in Skokie, Ill., followed by a funeral mass the next day in Winnetka, Ill.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be directed to the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation at Illinois Institute of Technology, 10 W. 35th St. Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60616, attention of Betsy Hughes.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2011-10-12-Obit-Galvin/id-21bc1350ec7b4c66aff60b14a484c3c0

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