Baker, William O.

Born in Chestertown, Maryland on 15 July 1915 -- Died 31 October 2005, Chatham, New Jersey.. Education: B.S., Chemistry, Washington College (1935); Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, Princeton University (1938). Employment: 1938-1980 AT&T Bell Laboratories.

William O. Baker served as research director and president of Bell telephone Laboratories.

After graduating from Washington College, Baker earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton in 1939. Baker joined Bell Labs in 1939, rising from research scientist to vice president of research to president from 1973 to 1979, and chairman of the board from 1979 to 1980. During World War II, Baker's work contributed to the development of synthetic rubber. His subsequent research in new materials and organic solid-state chemistry, much of it patented, earned him the Priestley Medal, the highest award given by the American Chemical Society, and the National Medal of Science. aker advised several U.S. presidents on scientific issues, including Cold War information-gathering technology. He later played an important role in higher education as member of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education, chairman of the board of Rockefeller University, and as a Princeton graduate alumni trustee and charter trustee. Princeton awarded him an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1993.