Dick Morley

Richard (Dick) Morley is known as the "father" of the programmable logic controller (PLC) since he was involved with the production of the first PLC for General Motors, the Modicon, at Bedford and Associates in 1968. The Modicon brand of PLC is now owned by Schneider Electric. The PLC has been recognized as a significant advancement in the practice of automation, and has an important influence on manufacturing industry.

Dick Morley is also a visionary in advanced technological developments. An entrepreneur in high technology companies, he holds more than 20 patents. His MIT-based background in physics provided the needed education for innovation. An inventor, machinist, author, consultant and engineer, his peers have acknowledged his contributions with numerous awards from groups such as Inc. magazine, the Franklin Institute, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Engineering Society of Detroit . He has also been inducted into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers offers the Richard E. Morley Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award for outstanding technical accomplishments in the manufacturing profession by engineers age 35 and under.

Mr. Morley works out of his barn in New Hampshire where he and his wife have been home to 40 foster children.

Other points of interest include:
> Father of Anti-lock Braking System
> Daniel Webster College Lecturer
> Teaching at AMC at Harvard
> Father of the floppy disk
> Machinist (designed early CNC machines)
> CHAOS
> NCMS, Past Chairman of the Board
> Worcester Polytechnic Institute Advisor
> International speaker on technology and innovation
> Writer/contributor for Wired, Control, inTech and Manufacturing Automation magazines
> Writer/author of two storyboards and several books
> Angel investor (100+ companies)
> Founder of Andover Controls and Modicon
> Worked on radar design, personal rapid transit, languages and computer design
> ISA and SME life member

Misc. Achievements and Awards:
2007–2008 SME Manufacturing Enterprise Council Member
2006–2008 NH Judge - Hi Tech Council Product of the Year
2006 Process Automation Hall of Fame (Control magazine)
2005 SME Board of Directors
1996 Automation Hall of Fame Prometheus Award
1995 SME Fellow
1993 Parallel Processor Design — Flavors
1991 Howard N. Potts Medal
1990 Entrepreneur of the Year
1981 Gould Science & Engineering Fellow
Boeing Technical Excellence Award