Robert William "Bob" Galvin (October 9, 1922 – October 11, 2011) was an American executive. He was the son of the founder of
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. () was an American Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent p ...
,
Paul Galvin, and served as the
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. () was an American Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent p ...
from 1959 to 1986.
Motorola career
Born in
Marshfield, Wisconsin, Galvin went to work for
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. () was an American Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent p ...
in 1940. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1944. In 1956 he was named the president of the company. Two years later he succeeded his father as a
chief executive officer
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
.
In 1986, Bob Galvin gave up the title of CEO while remaining
chairman of the board
The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...
. Under his leadership,
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. () was an American Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent p ...
sales had grown from $216.6 million in 1958 to $6.7 billion in 1987 and
cash flow
A cash flow is a real or virtual movement of money:
*a cash flow in its narrow sense is a payment (in a currency), especially from one central bank account to another; the term 'cash flow' is mostly used to describe payments that are expected ...
per
share had grown from 89 cents to $6.10. Bob Galvin also was instrumental, along with
Dr. Mikel J Harry and
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. () was an American Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent p ...
engineer
Bill Smith, in implementing the
Six Sigma quality system
A quality management system (QMS) is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction. It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction (ISO 9001:2015). I ...
at Motorola.
As a result of the
Six Sigma program, Motorola received the first
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1988, which is given by the President of the United States. Later, the
Six Sigma processes subsequently were adopted at the
General Electric Corporation
General Electric Company (GE) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York (state), New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated ...
.
Jack Welch
John Francis Welch Jr. (November 19, 1935 – March 1, 2020) was an American business executive, chemical engineer, and writer. He was Chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE) between 1981 and 2001.
When Welch retired from GE, he receive ...
said: "
Six Sigma changed the
DNA of
GE."
The
Six Sigma process requires 99.99967% error free processes and products, or 3.4 parts per million defects or less.
Other initiatives
In 2005, Galvin created the Galvin Electricity Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the electrical grid so that it meets with Six Sigma standards of quality.
Along with his two sons
Christopher
Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...
and Michael, Galvin recently started a real estate investment firm, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, named for the street where his father and uncle started Motorola (originally named "Galvin Manufacturing").
Awards
Galvin was a longtime supporter of
Illinois Institute of Technology and became a trustee in 1953. He served as chairman from 1979 to 1990 and sat on three steering bodies on the future of IIT, in 1975, 1985, and as chairman in 1993. At the time of his death, he served as a University Regent. In 1990, IIT presented Galvin with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, and in 1996, he received the university's Henry Heald Award. IIT dedicated the Paul V. Galvin Library in 1985 to recognize the Galvin family's commitment to the institution.
In 1985, Galvin received the Golden Plate Award of the
American Academy of Achievement. In 1991, Galvin was inducted into Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame. In 1993, he received the
Bower Award in Business Leadership
The Franklin Institute Awards (or Benjamin Franklin Medal) is an American science and engineering award presented by the Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia. The Franklin Institute awards comprises the Benjamin Franklin Medals ...
. In 2000 he was awarded the IEEE Founder's Medal for "For his distinguished leadership in promoting quality, technological excellence and' cooperation between government and the private sector, and expanding the applications of electronics and communications technology globally." In 2005, he was awarded the
Vannevar Bush Award
The National Science Board established the Vannevar Bush Award ( ) in 1980 to honor Vannevar Bush's unique contributions to public service. The annual award recognizes an individual who, through public service activities in science and technology ...
for "his visionary leadership to enhance U.S. innovation, competitiveness, and excellence at the interface of science and technology with the Nation's industrial enterprise. In the counsels of government, industry, and academe, he unselfishly gave the Nation the benefit of his knowledge, experience, and creative wisdom while leading his company in its great contribution to the computing and telecommunications transformation of society."
In 1995, he received the
Chicago History Museum "Making History Award" for Distinction in Civic Leadership.
Personal life
Galvin lived in
Barrington, Illinois
Barrington is a village in Cook County and Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,722 at the 2020 census. A northwest suburb of Chicago, the area features wetlands, forest preserves, parks, and horse trails in a country-s ...
with his wife, Mary Barnes Galvin. Together they have four children and thirteen grandchildren. Galvin, who was a devout
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, died in October 2011 in
Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
.
Bibliography
* America's Founding Secret: What the Scottish Enlightenment Taught Our Founding Fathers (2002)
* Perfect Power: How the Microgrid Revolution Will Unleash Cleaner, Greener, and More Abundant Energy (2008)
References
External links
Bob Galvin biography in the Business Hall of Fame*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galvin, Bob Esponge
Motorola employees
American chief executives
University of Notre Dame alumni
1922 births
National Medal of Technology recipients
People from Marshfield, Wisconsin
Businesspeople from Illinois
Businesspeople from Wisconsin
2011 deaths
Evanston Township High School alumni
20th-century American businesspeople