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Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) (talk | contribs) <ref name=obit>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Edward C. Wells, 75, Designed Boeing 747 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/100123096.html?dids=100123096:100123096&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+04%2C+1986&author=(AP)&p |
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''Ed Wells redirects here. For the baseball player, see [[Ed Wells (baseball)]]'' |
''Ed Wells redirects here. For the baseball player, see [[Ed Wells (baseball)]]'' |
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'''Edward Curtis Wells''' ( |
'''Edward Curtis Wells''' (August 26, 1910 – July 1, 1986) was senior vice president and served on the [[board of directors]] of [[Boeing Company]] who designed the [[Boeing 747]].<ref name=obit/> He was known as the "Elder Statesman of Aviation".<ref name=gug/> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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He was born in [[Boise, Idaho]] on August 26, 1910. He graduated from [[Grant High School (Oregon)|Grant High School]] in [[Portland, Oregon]]. He attended [[Willamette University]] for two years then attended [[Stanford University]]. He graduated [[Phi Beta Kappa]] from Stanford in 1931 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in engineering. |
He was born in [[Boise, Idaho]] on August 26, 1910. He graduated from [[Grant High School (Oregon)|Grant High School]] in [[Portland, Oregon]]. He attended [[Willamette University]] for two years then attended [[Stanford University]].<ref name=gug/> He graduated [[Phi Beta Kappa]] from Stanford in 1931 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in engineering. |
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Wells joined [[Boeing Company]]'s engineering staff in 1931 and was named Boeing's [[chief engineer]] in 1943.<ref name=gug>{{cite web |url=http://www.guggenheimmedal.org/Medalist%20PDF/MEDALIST%20FOR%201980.pdf |title=Edward Curtis Wells, Medalist for 1980 |accessdate=2011-11-16 |quote=The 'Elder Statesman of Aviation,' a title bestowed on him by the national Aeronautic Association, died in 1986 in Bellevue, Washington. |publisher=[[Daniel Guggenheim Medal]] }}</ref> |
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==Boeing== |
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Wells joined [[Boeing Company]]'s engineering staff in 1931, and served as Chief of the Preliminary Design Unit in 1936 and Chief Project Engineer in Charge of Military Projects in 1938. In 1939, he became Assistant Chief Engineer and was named Boeing's Chief Engineer in 1943. He received the [[Lawrence Sperry Award]] from the [[Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences]], in 1942, for his design contributions on four-engine aircraft. |
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⚫ | He died on July 1, 1986 in [[Bellevue, Washington]].<ref name=obit>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Edward C. Wells, 75, Designed Boeing 747 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/100123096.html?dids=100123096:100123096&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+04%2C+1986&author=(AP)&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=Edward+C.+Wells%2C+75%2C+Designed+Boeing+747&pqatl=google |quote=Edward C. Wells, who for nearly a half-century helped designsome of the world's most famous aircraft, including the Boeing B-52and 747, died Tuesday at age 75. |newspaper=[[Associated Press]] in [[New York Newsday]] |date=July 4, 1986 |accessdate=2011-11-15 }}</ref> |
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The Seattle Junior Chamber of Commerce named Wells its "Young Man of the Year" in 1943 and he received the [[Fawcett Aviation Award]] in 1944 for scientific contribution to aviation. He received an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the [[University of Portland]] in 1946 and an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from [[Willamette University]] in 1953. Boeing promoted Wells to the position of Vice President and Chief Engineer in May 1948 and two months later named him Vice President of Engineering. |
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==Honors== |
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From April 1958 to August 1959, Wells served as Vice President and General Manager of Boeing's Systems Management Office. Systems Management Office coordinated the company-wide effort which resulted in Boeing winning the first-phase development contract for the [[X-20]] and the assembly and test of the [[LGM-30 Minuteman]]. He became Vice President and General Manager of the company's Military Aircraft Systems Division when it came into existence in 1961. |
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*[[Daniel Guggenheim Medal]] (1980).<ref name=gug/> |
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*[[Fawcett Aviation Award]] (1944). |
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*[[Lawrence Sperry Award]] from the [[Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences]] (1942). |
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In 1963, the Military Aircraft Systems Division merged with the Transport Division to form the Airplane Division. Wells was named group vice president of the Airplane Division in January 1965. A year later he served as vice president of Product Development. Wells took a partial leave of absence during the 1969-1970 academic year to serve as a visiting professor to the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University. Before retiring in 1972, Wells would hold the positions of senior vice president of Airplanes and senior vice president-Technical. |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
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In 1985, Wells received the ''[[Tony Jannus Award]]'' for his distinguished contributions to commercial aviation. The following year (1986), |
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⚫ | He died on July 1, 1986 in [[Bellevue, Washington]].<ref name=obit>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Edward C. Wells, 75, Designed Boeing 747 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/100123096.html?dids=100123096:100123096&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+04%2C+1986&author=(AP)&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=Edward+C.+Wells%2C+75%2C+Designed+Boeing+747&pqatl=google |quote=Edward C. Wells, who for nearly a half-century helped designsome of the world's most famous aircraft, including the Boeing B-52and 747, died Tuesday at age 75. |newspaper=[[Associated Press]] in [[New York Newsday]] |date=July 4, 1986 |accessdate=2011-11-15 }}</ref> |
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*Geer, Mary Wells. ''Boeing's Ed Wells''. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992. ISBN 0-295-97204-1. |
*Geer, Mary Wells. ''Boeing's Ed Wells''. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992. ISBN 0-295-97204-1. |
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*Serling, Robert J. ''Legend & Legacy: The Story of Boeing and its People''. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. ISBN 0-312-05890-X. |
*Serling, Robert J. ''Legend & Legacy: The Story of Boeing and its People''. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. ISBN 0-312-05890-X. |
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==External links== |
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*[http://nationalaviation.blade6.donet.com/components/content_manager_v02/view_nahf/htdocs/menu_ps.asp?NodeID=149857181&group_ID=1134656385&Parent_ID=-1 HAHF biography from which this is derived] |
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Revision as of 18:47, 16 November 2011
Ed Wells redirects here. For the baseball player, see Ed Wells (baseball)
Edward Curtis Wells (August 26, 1910 – July 1, 1986) was senior vice president and served on the board of directors of Boeing Company who designed the Boeing 747.[1] He was known as the "Elder Statesman of Aviation".[2]
Biography
He was born in Boise, Idaho on August 26, 1910. He graduated from Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. He attended Willamette University for two years then attended Stanford University.[2] He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford in 1931 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in engineering.
Wells joined Boeing Company's engineering staff in 1931 and was named Boeing's chief engineer in 1943.[2]
He died on July 1, 1986 in Bellevue, Washington.[1]
Honors
- Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1980).[2]
- Fawcett Aviation Award (1944).
- Lawrence Sperry Award from the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (1942).
References
- ^ a b "Edward C. Wells, 75, Designed Boeing 747". Associated Press in New York Newsday. July 4, 1986. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
Edward C. Wells, who for nearly a half-century helped designsome of the world's most famous aircraft, including the Boeing B-52and 747, died Tuesday at age 75.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ a b c d "Edward Curtis Wells, Medalist for 1980" (PDF). Daniel Guggenheim Medal. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
The 'Elder Statesman of Aviation,' a title bestowed on him by the national Aeronautic Association, died in 1986 in Bellevue, Washington.
Further reading
- Geer, Mary Wells. Boeing's Ed Wells. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992. ISBN 0-295-97204-1.
- Serling, Robert J. Legend & Legacy: The Story of Boeing and its People. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. ISBN 0-312-05890-X.