Biography for William Matthew Lower
Electronics Engineer and Industry Leader
Litton Systems Canada, Toronto, Canada
Bill Lower was born in Toronto in 1919. Following military service
between 1940 and 1945, he attended the University of Toronto, receiving
his B.A. Sc in 1949 having studied X-Ray & Spectropscopy in the
Engineering Physics department.
His extensive engineering career involved several Canadian companies;
Canadian Arsenals Instrument and Radar Div. (1949-1954), Sonograph
Engineering and Manufacturing Co.Ltd. (1954-1959), Canadian Westinghouse
Electronics Division (1959-1961), Ferranti-Packard Electronics Division,
(1961-1971) and Litton Systems Canada Ltd. (1971-1984). Bill also held
directorships with Ferranti-Packard, T-Scan Ltd., Canadian TransLux, and
Severn River Patrol Inc.
His professional activities include; membership in the Association of
Professional Engineers of Ontario (now PEO), Past Director of the
Electronic Industries Association, and Chairman of the 1969
International Electronics Conference. He joined the IRE in 1951 and is
now a Senior Life Member of the IEEE, and currently Secretary of the
IEEE Canadian Foundation.
Career Highlights
Military Service. In 1940, Bill joined the Royal Canadian Army
Medical Corps (16th Field Ambulance), and served in the Hospital at New
Market Training Camp. In 1941, he transferred to the RCAF as a radio
mechanic and took a special course at the University of Toronto. Upon
completion of the course. he was promoted to Pilot Officer and received
classified training in RDF (later called Radar). In 1942, he served on a
RDF site in the UK for active service training transferring to the
Middle East Desert Airforce. He served in Palestine,Iraq and Egypt with
the 162nd Squadron and then transferred to a Radar unit
located in the Western Desert behind the Alamein Line. After the
breakout, he was stationed at Tobruk Libya until he was promoted to
Officer Commanding the 871 st AMES as Flight Lieutenant.
Embarking from Tripoli, he proceeded to the south of Europe via Malta.
As a night fighter control unit (GCI) the unit was required to provide
front line coverage for 4 D-day assaults namely Pacino Scicily, Salerno
Italy, Anzio Italy and St. Tropez France with follow-up. Because of the
unique role that 871 st AMES played it received a special
commendation from RAF Middle East HQ. Bill was awarded a "Mention in
Dispatches" and the MBE.
Canadian Arsenals. As Development Engineer, Bill was engaged in
the design of radar display systems and modulators for X and S Band
Radars. He was promoted to project engineer for the AA4 Mk6 NATO project
covering S Band surveillance radar production for European members.
Sonograph Engineering. As Chief Engineer, Bill guided the
development and production of mainly magnetic recording systems for
office and military air traffic control applications.
Canadian Westinghouse Electronics Div. As Supervisor of Special
Projects, Bill undertook responsibility for primarily military projects
in missile telemetry, displays and classified projects.
Ferranti-Packard Electronics Division. As Vice-President
and General Manager (of a Canadian pioneering operation in the field of
digital electronics), Bill was responsible for the development and
production of special purpose computer systems & peripherals such as magnetic
memory drums, punched paper tape readers, bar code readers and displays.
The most popular development was the flip-disc display which is in major
service today in the transportation field. In the 1960's before chips
became low-cost the major application was in stock exchanges. Systems
were supplied to the Montreal Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of
Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the exchanges at Sao Paulo & Belo
Horizonte Brazil and Tokyo Japan. Research projects were undertaken in
the field of cryogenic memories and accelerator magnets and molten
carbonate fuel cells.
Litton Systems Canada Limited. As Director &
Marketing Manager of Special projects, Bill was engaged in new business
development which included airborne search radars, naval information
systems, classified digital simulation and modelling & Air Traffic
Control systems.
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