The Biography of William R. Hewlett
William “Bill” R. Hewlett had a passion for innovation and a talent for bringing new ideas to life.
As a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard, he played a crucial role in developing many essential technologies and helped establish the company as a leader in the industry.
William R. Hewlett was a true visionary and a wonderful human being remembered for his intelligence, integrity, and kindness.
Not only did this man co-found one of the biggest computer companies in the world, but he was also one of the most charitable. Let’s take a look at his journey.
“Creativity is an area in which younger people have a tremendous advantage, since they have an endearing habit of always questioning past wisdom and authority.” – William R. Hewlett
Birth and Childhood
William R. Hewlett was born on May 20, 1913, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His parents were Dr. Albion and Louise Redington Hewlett.
His father, Albion, taught medicine at the University of Michigan. The family moved to Palo Alto, California, when Hewlett was three years old because his father accepted a position at Stanford University Medical School.
When Dr. Albion passed away suddenly from a brain tumor in 1926, Hewlett and his family moved to Europe for a year before returning to San Francisco.
Education
Hewlett was not confident growing up as he was a slow reader. Although undiagnosed, he was actually dyslexic.
The condition made writing assignments difficult. To ensure he stayed caught up, Hewlett took steps to memorize important facts and figures.
He came up with an organized and logical way to do so, which made him excel in math and science.
Hewlett also didn’t like studying with textbooks. Instead, he preferred taking things apart and analyzing their components.
Despite his challenges, he graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco and went to Stanford University.
“Men and women want to do a good job, and if they are provided the proper environment, they will do so” – William R. Hewlett
While Hewlett was a freshman at Stanford, he met David Packard. The two became quick friends and acquired Professor Frederick Terman as a mentor.
The legendary educator advised the duo to gain experience and knowledge before launching their business, which was at the top of their minds. In 1934, Hewlett graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor of arts degree.
Thereafter, Hewlett continued his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1936, he obtained a master’s degree in electrical engineering.
Forming the Hewlett-Packard Company
After MIT, Hewlett made his way back to Stanford. Here, he got a contract to build an electroencephalograph (a device for recording brain waves) with the help of Professor Terman.
In 1939, Hewlett received an engineering degree from Stanford. That same year, he and Packard joined forces to open their own business – the Hewlett-Packard Company.
The company had humble beginnings, starting in a garage behind Packard’s home and his mother’s kitchen, which housed the oven where the duo baked their first transformers.
They created a few unsuccessful inventions: a shock machine for weight loss and an automatic urinal flusher.
“Never try to take a fortified hill, especially if the Army on top is bigger than you are”- William R. Hewlett
Their winning creation was a resistance capacitance audio oscillator that generated variable, stable, low-frequency signals.
This device would prove helpful in many industries, such as medicine, oil exploration, and oceanography. Even Walt Disney bought them for the production of Fantasia.
In 1939, Hewlett and Packard made $1,500 in profit, which went towards their first building in 1941.
They played all sorts of roles in the company, going so far as to sweep the floors and manage inventory.
In 1941, the company realized sales of $150,000, thanks to a deep focus on electronic measurement and test instruments.
Military Service
When World War II hit, Hewlett served in the armed forces. There, he served in the US Army Signal Corps and headed an electronics section of the New Development Division of the War Department’s Special Staff.
Hewlett returned home when the military discharged him in 1945.
Hewlett’s Roles in HP
In 1947, Hewlett became vice president of the Hewlett-Packard Company. It recorded $1.5 million in sales and had 110 headcounts that year.
The end of the war brought less demand for products, resulting in scaled-back operations. Hewlett and Packard changed their company’s direction, refusing to place all their eggs in one basket: the government.
Fact: Unlike Many Others in His Profession, He Began His Engineering Career by Blowing Things Up.
The duo grew the product line to meet the demands of a broader market. In 1957, Hewlett became executive vice president and, seven years later, president of Hewlett-Packard.
During Hewlett’s active years, HP changed the world with its products, which supported manufacturing, testing, measuring, copying, scanning, and calculating.
Its devices met the sophisticated technological needs of the medical, science, and military industries, among others.
“The job of a manager is to support his or her staff, not vice versa, and that begins by being among them.” – William R. Hewlett
Thanks to Hewlett’s interest in compacting electronic tools, the company produced the world’s premier handheld scientific computer in 1972.
This consumer product was HP’s first and was an instant success.
Hewlett (and Packard) managed the company by incorporating new operating principles. Their method became known as the “HP way.”
Hewlett considered his staff members the organization’s pillar, not expendable parts. HP became an example for corporate America, introducing profit-sharing, employee stock ownership, flexible work hours, and health benefits.
Hewlett left his role as president in 1977 and relinquished his CEO position the following year. Nonetheless, he was still an active figure in the company.
Among the roles he held thereafter were chairman of the executive committee, vice-chair of the board of directors, and director emeritus.
In 1990, HP’s stock dropped significantly. Hewlett returned to the company for a brief stint to reduce bureaucracy inefficiency. He was in his 80s at the time.
Fact: Bill Hewlett Was Considered To Be One of the Founders of Silicon Valley
Philanthropy
Hewlett believed in giving back, so much so that he donated most of his money to charitable causes. Together with Packard, he donated hundreds of millions to Stanford.
The duo also established the Frederick Terman Fellowship in honor of their mentor with $25 million. They endowed $70 million to found the Public Policy Institute of California, a research institution focused on economic, social, and political issues.
“We felt that the employees would take a greater interest in work if they felt they were part of the company.” – William R. Hewlett
In 1966, Hewlett launched the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where the bulk of his fortune went upon his death. The organization donates $120 million yearly to aid educational, environmental, and cultural efforts.
Personal Life
1939 was a significant year for Hewlett. Aside from gaining an engineering degree and starting his company, he married Flora Lamson.
The couple had five children: Eleanor, Walter, James, William, and Mary.
They remained together until his wife died in 1977. The following year, Hewlett tied the knot with Rosemary Kopmeier Bradford.
Hewlett loved the outdoors, photography, and botany. As a young man, he climbed a few challenging peaks in Yosemite. Despite being such a huge success, Hewlett was a private man, often shying away from publicity.
He also had an unassuming character; he would drive himself to work and have lunch at the company cafeteria.
Fact: President Ronald Reagan Presented Hewlett With the National Medal of Science in 1985.
Death
On January 12, 2001, William R. Hewlett died at age 87 in Palo Alto, California.
He suffered heart failure and was laid to rest at Los Gatos Memorial Park in San Jose, California. At the time of his death, he had amassed a fortune of $9 billion, making him one of the wealthiest Americans.
Wrapping Up: A Genius With a Huge Heart
“Never stifle a generous impulse” was Bill Hewlett’s favorite phrase.
He was a well-respected individual, not only for building one of the most successful technology companies but also for his generosity.
William R. Hewlett Timeline
William R. Hewlett Timeline1913:
William R. Hewlett is born on May 20, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
1916:
Bill Hewlett and his family move to Palo Alto, California.
1926:
Hewlett and his family move to Europe for a year after his father’s death.
1930:
Hewlett starts studying at Stanford University, where he meets David Packard.
1934:
Hewlett graduates from Stanford University with a bachelor of arts degree.
1936:
Hewlett obtains a master’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT.
1939:
Bill Hewlett gains an engineering degree from Stanford, starts the Hewlett-Packard Company, and marries Flora Lamson.
1947:
Hewlett becomes the vice president of HP.
1957:
Hewlett becomes the executive vice president of HP.
1964:
Hewlett becomes the president of HP.
1966:
Bill Hewlett launched the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
1969:
Bill Hewlett becomes the CEO of HP.
1977:
Hewlett resigns as president.
1978:
Hewlett relinquishes his CEO title.
1978:
Bill Hewlett marries Rosemary Kopmeier Bradford.
1990:
Hewlett returns to HP to reduce bureaucracy inefficiency.
2001:
Bill Hewlett dies of heart failure at 87.
For More Stories About Famous Business People, Click Here
Lessons We Can Learn From William R. Hewlett
There are many lessons to learn from Bill Hewlett. In addition, there are books about the lessons Hewlett Packard offers, notably, The HP Way.”
For this post, I have included a couple of them, along with my perspective on each.
Lesson One:
Give People the Opportunity To Do It Their Way and Get Out of Their Way.
Micromanaging can be effective at times.
For example, the tactic can be used when someone is performing a task they don’t know or want to do, which reveals another problem: the person may not be a good fit for the job.
Suppose a qualified person takes on a job.
Micromanaging them would hold them back and waste your time micromanaging someone who doesn’t need it.
When a competent employee is restricted, you’re keeping them from their full potential and restricting their creativity.
Likewise, as a leader, you’re not receiving the full potential of that employee and what they can do because you’re micromanaging them. As a consequence, employees lose confidence, which will adversely affect their performance.
Lesson Two:
Trust and Respect for Individuals.
The second lesson to look at from Bill Hewlett is treating people, trusting people, and treating them with respect.
Treating people with respect is one of the top character traits on my list and goes a long way.
Of course, when you get into the habit of always treating people with respect, most will respect you in return, but that’s not the point.
The point is your actions affect other people, and if you keep that in mind as a leader, you want to build people up and not put them down.
When you build someone up, you’re doing something good that can be a lasting change for that person. Great leaders build other people up and help them reach their full potential.
Most employees will perform better knowing they have earned their boss’s trust.
Trust is not random and just given. It has to be earned. But once you trust your employee, it doesn’t hurt to let them know.
Naturally, you wouldn’t just go up to them and say I trust you, but when an opportunity presents itself, you can say something like, go ahead, I trust you.
Trustworthy people usually don’t change their behavior, language, or actions. They are the same in multiple situations.
Other characteristics of trustworthy people are they are truthful, respectful, and humble.
Frequently Asked Questions
The information in this post answers many of the questions about Bill Hewlett.
This section provides a summary and any additional information.
1. What did William R. Hewlett study?
Bill Hewlett obtained a bachelor of arts degree from Stanford before obtaining a master’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT.
After that, he received an engineering degree from Stanford.
2. Why was Bill Hewlett famous?
William R. Hewlett was famous for co-founding Hewlett-Packard (HP), one of the world’s leading technology companies.
He was also a generous philanthropist.
3. How much was William Hewlett worth?
Bill Hewlett was one of the wealthiest people in the world. When he died, he was worth $9 billion.