Archives – Summer 2000

Cecil Green

This year Cecil Green, founding director of Texas Instruments and philanthropist to science, turns 100 years old.

Born in Manchester, England, in 1900, Green spent his early years in Canada. After obtaining a degree in electrical engineering from MIT, he went to work at General Electric designing steam turbine engines. In 1951, he cofounded Texas Instruments, which produced the first commercial silicone transistor, the first integrated circuit, and the first hand-held electronic calculator.

Along with his late wife Ida, Green generously supported a number of projects, people, and institutions of benefit to science, including the National Academies and the University of Texas at Dallas. In 1978, both Greens received the NAS Public Welfare Medal for their outstanding role as discerning donors.