Longtime Motorola CEO Robert Galvin dies at 89
(AP) -- Robert Galvin, who was Motorola's CEO for 29 years and took it from maker of police radios and TVs to one of the world's leading electronics companies, has died. He was 89.
Galvin died Tuesday night in Chicago of natural causes, his family said.
Galvin was named CEO in 1959 at the death his father, company founder Paul Galvin. He remained in the post until 1988 and stayed on as chairman until 1990.
Galvin oversaw Motorola's pioneering efforts in the cellular industry, including the creation of the first commercial cellphone in 1973 and the construction of the first cellphone network in the early 80s.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Barnes Galvin, four children - Gail Galvin Ellis, Dawn Galvin Meiners, and Christopher and Michael Galvin - 13 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
A wake is scheduled for Monday in Skokie, Ill., followed by a funeral mass the next day in Winnetka, Ill.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be directed to the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation at Illinois Institute of Technology, 10 W. 35th St. Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60616, attention of Betsy Hughes.
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