Official IBM picture of Don Estridge, courtesy The History of Computing Project (www.thocp.net)

Philip Donald Estridge (June 23, 1937 - August 2, 1985), known as Don Estridge, led development of the original IBM Personal Computer (PC), and thus is known as "father of the IBM PC". His decisions dramatically changed the computer industry, resulting in a vast increase in the number of personal computers sold and bought, and creating an entire industry of hardware manufacturers of IBM PCs. Image File history File links DonEstridge. ... Image File history File links DonEstridge. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... IBM PC (IBM 5150) with keyboard and green screen monochrome monitor (IBM 5151), running MS-DOS 5. ... now. ...

Estridge was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1937. His father was a professional photographer. He graduated from Bishop Kenny High School in 1955, and from the University of Florida in 1959. One year after graduating from Bishop Kenny, in Jacksonville, Florida, he married Mary Hellier. Three children would eventually be born from his marriage: Patricia Ann, Mary Evelyn and Sandra Marie. Motto: Where Florida Begins Location in the state of Florida Coordinates: Country United States State Florida County Duval Mayor John Peyton (R) Area    - City 2,264. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university located in Gainesville, Florida. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

He completed a BS in electrical engineering at the University of Florida, and worked at the Army, designing a radar system using computers, IBM and finally NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center until he moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1969.

It was after this that he discovered his passion: designing a personal computer that could be easily used and functioning for the masses. He led the team which developed the IBM PC, and was responsible for choosing an open architecture and to buy parts and software outside of IBM. His choice of an open architecture and off-the-shelf components resulted in the IBM PC architecture becoming ubiquitous. His efforts began in at IBM Main Site in Boca Raton, Florida around 1980 with a team of just 14 people and a revenue base of zero. By the time he gave up leading IBM's PC division (known then as Entry Level Systems) in 1985, the division had 10,000 employees and annual revenue of $4.5 billion. IBM PC (IBM 5150) with keyboard and green screen monochrome monitor (IBM 5151), running MS-DOS 5. ... A City for All Seasons Location of Boca Raton in Palm Beach County, Florida. ...

Don and Mary Estridge perished in the crash of Delta Air Lines Flight 191 at Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas airport on August 2, 1985 along with several other IBM executives. He was 48 years old. The Estridges were survived by their three daughters. Delta Air Lines Flight 191 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Estridge has been honored many times. In 1999 he was identified in CIO magazine as one of the people who "invented the enterprise". The Don Estridge High-Tech Middle School--formerly IBM Facility Building 051--in Boca Raton, Florida, is named after him. Front of Don Estridge High Tech Middle School Don Estridge High-Tech Middle School is a technology-infused school in Boca Raton, Florida that opened in 2004. ...

Trivia

• In 1983, Steve Jobs offered him the position of president of Apple Computer, for $1 million per year, plus a $1 million signing bonus, and $2 million to buy a house. Estridge turned it down.

1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Steven Paul Jobs (born February 24, 1955) is the co-founder and CEO of Apple Computer and was the CEO of Pixar until its acquisition by Disney. ... Apple Computer, Inc. ...

References

• The Father of the PC Revolution: Philip "Don" Estridge, Jan Winston, CIO Magazine, Dec. 15, 1999/Jan. 1 2000. Part of Inventing the Enterprise
• View from the Top by Michael J. Miller, PC Magazine, 09.04.01
• The IBM PC father: Remembering Don Estridge, Kevin Tolly, Network World, 2004-12-20.
• Philip Donald Estridge's biography at the The History of Computing Project