Gary Kildall

About

Famous as the founder of Digital Research, Inc., and as the creator of an operating system called CP/M (the Control Program for Microcomputers), he tried, but failed, to license his product to IBM.

Before Fame

After earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, he taught at Monterey, California's Naval Postgraduate School and began programming for an early Intel microprocessor. He later returned to his alma mater and completed his computer science Ph.D.

Trivia

He died suddenly in his early fifties, having suffered a head injury, possibly as the result of a fall.

Family Life

Born to a family of Scandinavian heritage, he spent his youth in Seattle, Washington. He was married twice -- first to Dorothy McEwen Kildall and later to Karen Kildall.

Associated With

Microsoft founder Bill Gates attempted to orchestrate a deal between IBM and Kildall's Digital Research company.