Phil Allen Adamson

1925 - 2018

February 16, 1925 - May 26, 2018 Phil Allen Adamson was born on February 16, 1925 in Burbank, California, to Dova Wallace Adamson and Lorene Allen Adamson. He was an only child. Phil was a descendant through his mother of Patriot Ethan Allen and through his father of Patriot John Boyd. Phil passed on May 26, 2018 of heart failure in Santa Monica, California. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol Joann, and his adult son Scott Evan. Phil earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Redlands in 1946, and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1949. He began his career in digital computing and control system design at Hughes Research and Development Laboratories in Culver City, where he worked with fellow Caltech graduate Simon Ramo (the future co-founder of TRW) during the heyday of the defense industry and the Hughes Aircraft Company. As part of the Technical Staff at Radar Laboratory, he designed and built a computer for airborne automatic control systems – severely restricting the size and weight, while ensuring operation under extreme environmental conditions by utilizing flip-flop circuits and diode networks. He also was involved in developing and designing the logistics for several key aspects of military technology, including the Hughes MA-1 electronic guidance and fire control system. At age 29, he was promoted to Section Manager. He also had the honor of being flown on a Hughes plane to Palm Springs one afternoon to repair Howard Hughes's hearing aid. In later years, he worked in Fullerton as part of the Ground Systems Group – the world's preeminent supplier of air defense systems and as one of the leading makers of surface and anti-submarine systems for the Navy. He then transferred to the Radar Systems Group where he worked as a Project Manager for airborne radar systems to the F14, F15, F18 and Stealth Bomber wherever it was deployed around the world. Phil made significant contributions to the digital computing world, especially in its initial stages. He was granted several patents for inventions, including the patent for the Electronic Digital Computer (patent filed 1952, granted May 10, 1960). This invention performed complex arithmetic digitally and formed the foundation of computers as we know them today. Phil also has the patent for the Digital-to-Analog Converter (patent filed 1953, granted December 8, 1959). This invention converted a multitude of digital signals to the corresponding analog output signal and formed the foundation for CRT Monitors used until the development of LCD screens. Throughout his career, Phil published and coauthored numerous books and papers on digital computing and control system design, including a paper presented at the 1953 Convention of the Institute of Radio Engineers titled "Multichannel Analog Input-Output Conversion System for Digital Computer." He also contributed to "Astronautics for Science Teachers," a book published in 1965, writing a chapter/section on Computers, Communications, Controls, and Navigation Systems. Phil retired from Hughes in 1987, but never stopped working in the field. Phil co-founded Speculative Management Corporation, which developed and operated one of the first computer-based commodities trading platforms. Phil also invented an Electronic Coin Detector (patented in 1992). This invention identified and counted coins electronically with no moving parts. As a child, he garnered more than his fair share of local attention, appearing in over a dozen newspaper articles over a span of 14 years. His successes and activities included attendance at a Big Bear Boys' Camp six-week trip at age nine and participating in a writing contest at age ten. At age eleven, Phil was in student council. According to the local papers, he also started a class leaf collection and performed with the school orchestra. He eventually went on to play cello for the Pasadena Civic Orchestra. At South Pasadena High School, Phil played in a tennis tournament at age fourteen, and at age fifteen he attended the Older Boys' Conference held in Bakersfield to represent the Sophomore Class of South Pasadena High School's Hi-Y chapter. At age seventeen he won a competitive scholarship to college for four years and graduated from high school. In 1947, he was one of 19 young college men who sailed from Los Angeles to Tahiti from July to September on an ex-Navy sub-chaser – a feat written about in the Los Angeles Times. While in college, Phil became a licensed electrical contractor and began his own business called Sound Engineers doing radio repair, consulting, and manufacturing. He also found time to be involved in his community, namely, the San Marino Community Church and the "Sunday Nighters" group for college-age young people, which met at his home. Phil's family is extremely proud of his life's work and how his achievements advanced the cause of science and technology and improved the lives of others.