Charles Howard Vollum (May 31, 1913 – February 5, 1986)[1] was an American electronics engineer, businessman, and philanthropist in Oregon, United States. He was the co-founder of Tektronix Corporation, and endowed the Vollum Institute.
Howard Vollum was born on May 31, 1913, in Portland, Oregon. He attended Portland's Catholic Columbia University (now University of Portland) from 1931 to 1933, then transferred to Reed College in 1934,[1] where, in 1936, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics. His undergraduate thesis was the creation of a new kind of cathode-rayoscilloscope.
Upon graduation from college, he spent several years servicing and installing radios and experimenting with electronic devices. From 1940 to 1941 he was Supervisor of the Radio Project, National Youth Administration, in Portland. Vollum served as an officer in the United States ArmySignal Corps from 1942 to 1946, serving in England and New Jersey on artillery fire control radar. He was later awarded the Legion of Merit for this work.[citation needed]
Vollum died on February 5, 1986.[1] His wife, Jean Vollum, continued to serve on the Tektronix board of directors until mandatory retirement at age 70, and continued philanthropy until her death in 2007. Vollum was survived by his five sons.[2]
Tektronix
In 1946, Vollum co-founded Tektronix with Jack Murdock, becoming equal partners, along with Murdock's fellow former "coastie" Miles Tippery, and accountant Glenn McDowell.[1] The company mission was stated in the articles of incorporation as "to install, repair, service and sell, purchase, manufacture and otherwise acquire and deal in radio and other instruments."[3][4]
By 1951, the company had 300 employees and sales of $4 million; by 1959, there were 3,000 employees with sales at $32 million. Tektronix had become the leading oscilloscopes and test equipment manufacturer, a position that held up until the 1970s. Vollum served as president of the company from 1946 until 1971. In 1978, Tektronix was lauded by authors Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz, et al, in their book, The 100 best companies to work for in America.[5] He remained on its board of directors until his death, and was board chairman until 1984 and then vice chairman.[1]
The Vollum Institute
Vollum's innate interest in science also drew him to the neuroscience laboratories at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) where he knew his oscilloscope could be applied to healthcare research. He developed an interest in experiments measuring bio-electrical phenomena, and this ultimately provided his philanthropic motivation and led Vollum to endow an institute for advanced biomedical research at OHSU.
Other activities
Vollum supported many Oregon educational institutions, including Reed College in Portland, which has a prominent academic building and student activity program named for him. Vollum helped found the Oregon Graduate Institute (now part of OHSU), in 1965, with a $2 million grant and, upon his death in 1986, bequeathed $14.8 million to the college as an endowment. His will also included a $3.8 million bequest to the Catlin Gabel School.[6]
Howard and Jean Vollum also funded the construction of the Library Building at Mount Angel Abbey in Mt. Angel, Oregon; the award-winning building was one of very few structures in the United States designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and stands as a remarkable architectural accomplishment.
References
^ abcdeRogoway, Mike (May 29, 2013) [first published online May 28]. "The man who planted Silicon Forest". The Oregonian. p. B3. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
^Row, D.K. (June 6, 2007). "Generous giver Jean Vollum dies". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
^Tekscope Museum 2016-03-09 at the Wayback Machine "Classic Tektronix Scopes - Timeline" Retrieved 3 January 2018.
^OPB 2018-01-04 at the Wayback Machine Oregon Experience, "The Spirit of Tek", Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
^Levering, R, et al The 100 best companies to work for in America, by Robert Levering, Milton Moskowitz, Michael Katz and Donald R. Katz, Penguin Group, USA, 1987. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
Vollum interviewed by the Oregon Historical Society. The transcription is posted by their permission at
External links
OHSU Vollum Institute website
Vollum Biography by Bill Hewlett on National Academy Press website
March 16, 2023
howard, vollum, charles, 1913, february, 1986, american, electronics, engineer, businessman, philanthropist, oregon, united, states, founder, tektronix, corporation, endowed, vollum, institute, contents, background, tektronix, vollum, institute, other, activit. Charles Howard Vollum May 31 1913 February 5 1986 1 was an American electronics engineer businessman and philanthropist in Oregon United States He was the co founder of Tektronix Corporation and endowed the Vollum Institute Contents 1 Background 2 Tektronix 3 The Vollum Institute 4 Other activities 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditHoward Vollum was born on May 31 1913 in Portland Oregon He attended Portland s Catholic Columbia University now University of Portland from 1931 to 1933 then transferred to Reed College in 1934 1 where in 1936 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics His undergraduate thesis was the creation of a new kind of cathode ray oscilloscope Upon graduation from college he spent several years servicing and installing radios and experimenting with electronic devices From 1940 to 1941 he was Supervisor of the Radio Project National Youth Administration in Portland Vollum served as an officer in the United States Army Signal Corps from 1942 to 1946 serving in England and New Jersey on artillery fire control radar He was later awarded the Legion of Merit for this work citation needed He was awarded the Howard N Potts Medal in 1973 citation needed Vollum died on February 5 1986 1 His wife Jean Vollum continued to serve on the Tektronix board of directors until mandatory retirement at age 70 and continued philanthropy until her death in 2007 Vollum was survived by his five sons 2 Tektronix EditIn 1946 Vollum co founded Tektronix with Jack Murdock becoming equal partners along with Murdock s fellow former coastie Miles Tippery and accountant Glenn McDowell 1 The company mission was stated in the articles of incorporation as to install repair service and sell purchase manufacture and otherwise acquire and deal in radio and other instruments 3 4 By 1951 the company had 300 employees and sales of 4 million by 1959 there were 3 000 employees with sales at 32 million Tektronix had become the leading oscilloscopes and test equipment manufacturer a position that held up until the 1970s Vollum served as president of the company from 1946 until 1971 In 1978 Tektronix was lauded by authors Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz et al in their book The 100 best companies to work for in America 5 He remained on its board of directors until his death and was board chairman until 1984 and then vice chairman 1 The Vollum Institute EditVollum s innate interest in science also drew him to the neuroscience laboratories at the Oregon Health and Science University OHSU where he knew his oscilloscope could be applied to healthcare research He developed an interest in experiments measuring bio electrical phenomena and this ultimately provided his philanthropic motivation and led Vollum to endow an institute for advanced biomedical research at OHSU Other activities EditVollum supported many Oregon educational institutions including Reed College in Portland which has a prominent academic building and student activity program named for him Vollum helped found the Oregon Graduate Institute now part of OHSU in 1965 with a 2 million grant and upon his death in 1986 bequeathed 14 8 million to the college as an endowment His will also included a 3 8 million bequest to the Catlin Gabel School 6 Howard and Jean Vollum also funded the construction of the Library Building at Mount Angel Abbey in Mt Angel Oregon the award winning building was one of very few structures in the United States designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and stands as a remarkable architectural accomplishment References Edit a b c d e Rogoway Mike May 29 2013 first published online May 28 The man who planted Silicon Forest The Oregonian p B3 Retrieved June 2 2013 Row D K June 6 2007 Generous giver Jean Vollum dies The Oregonian Retrieved June 2 2013 Tekscope Museum Archived 2016 03 09 at the Wayback Machine Classic Tektronix Scopes Timeline Retrieved 3 January 2018 OPB Archived 2018 01 04 at the Wayback Machine Oregon Experience The Spirit of Tek Oregon Public Broadcasting 2 April 2015 Retrieved 3 January 2018 Levering R et al The 100 best companies to work for in America by Robert Levering Milton Moskowitz Michael Katz and Donald R Katz Penguin Group USA 1987 Retrieved 3 January 2018 Ted Kaye Catlin Gabel School The Oregon Encyclopedia Vollum interviewed by the Oregon Historical Society The transcription is posted by their permission at campevans orgExternal links EditOHSU Vollum Institute website Vollum Biography by Bill Hewlett on National Academy Press website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Howard Vollum amp oldid 1083135292, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
