Generation 1 - Anthony E. Gerhard
At four years of age he could play the piano
better than most adults. However since his
dad died when he was 7 years old, there was
little time or money for him to develop that
talent. When asked about being a child
prodigy, he would say that the word is over used
and being able to play the piano isn't very
important.
Anthony only had seven years of formal schooling
(skipping the sixth grade). He went
straight to work at the Armour meat packing
plant as a messenger after graduating from
the eight grade. He had excellent balance
and coordination and devised a way of
sliding down the worn wooden steps on the
grease from the plant. He could deliver
messages faster than any other messenger, so
the urgent messages were given to him.
He received his engineering degree from a
correspondence school. A man in the
neighborhood bought the course for him and
he completed his studies while working full
time. He
took additional Engineering correspondence courses
from Capitol Radio Engineering Institute in
the 1940's.
He was a national champion telegrapher and a
pioneer in HAM radio. He put up a makeshift antenna in his
backyard to receive Marconi's first
wireless telegraph message and later went to
work for Mr. Marconi.
During the late 1920's and early 1930's he
worked on the first television system.
His was one of the first faces ever to be
seen on a television screen.
He also developed an early photo fax machine
in the 1930's.
He worked for Raytheon during the 1940's and
help to develop the first microwave oven.
Anthony Gerhard was a true pioneer in the field of
electronics.
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