Bob Widlar - Early Years

Early Years

Widlar never talked about his early years and personal life. He was born in Cleveland to parents of Czech and German descent. His mother, Mary Vithous, was born in Cleveland to Czech immigrants Frank (Frantisek) Vithous and Marie Zakova. His father, Walter J. Widlar, came from a prominent German American family whose ancestors settled in Cleveland in the end of the 18th century. A self-taught radio engineer, Walter Widlar worked for the WGAR (1220 AM) radio station and designed pioneering ultra high frequency transmitters. Walter Widlar and Mary Vithous married on August 24, 1935. Robert, their second son, was born November 30, 1937. The world of electronics surrounded him since birth: Widlar became the first baby monitored by wireless radio. Guided by his father, he developed a strong interest in electronics in early childhood.

Widlar graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland and enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In February 1958 Widlar joined the United States Air Force. He instructed servicemen in electronic equipment and devices and authored his first book, Introduction to Semiconductor Devices (1960), a textbook that demonstrated his ability to simplify complex problems. His liberal mind was a poor match for the military environment, and in 1961 Widlar left the service. He joined the Ball Brothers Research Corporation in Boulder to develop analog and digital equipment for NASA. He simultaneously continued studies at the University of Colorado and graduated with high grades in the summer of 1963.