Philip Don Estridge

(June 23, 1937 - August 2, 1985)

Educational Achievements:

In 1955 Estridge graduated from Kenny High School and completed his bachelor's degree in electric engineering from the University of Florida in 1959.

Contributions to Computer Science:

In IBM, Estridge, along with 14 other co-workers, were responsible for making the IBM PC. What made the PC so remarkable though, was that he made the computer with off- the-shelf materials and then opened the specifications to the public. By allowing others to see his design, thousands of people gained experience wroting computer programs which were included on the computers, and led to increased the IBM sales. The novel release approach also led to more multimillion dollar companies and laptop options for the public. Another tool he invented was a radar system, using computers, for the U.S. Army. His innovation went to prove how useful computers were and the need for more research in the area.

A Tragic End:

On August 2nd 1985, when Delta flight 191 going from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport back home crashed, Philip, along with his wife died. There are several speculations as to the cause of the disaster but none have been proven.

Resources:

https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Philip_Don_Estridge
https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/1788/Don-Estridge//
New york times philip-estridge-dies-in-jet-crash-guided-ibm-personal-computer
https://www.ibm.com/history/personal-computer