Elmer H. Wavering

Elmer H. Wavering was born in Quincy, Illinois, on April 22, 1907. At the age of 14, he had already created his first radio. In high school, he worked at Quincy Radio Laboratory, a radio parts store, run by Bill Lear. He attended George Washington University, but did not graduate. In 1928, he returned to Quincy to open Waverite Radio Shop. ==Career==

Motorola Inspired by a conversation with their girlfriends on an evening drive, Wavering and Lear worked on a car radio prototype. In 1932, Paul Galvin selected Wavering to lead Motorola's car radio and police two-way communications businesses. He was later promoted to vice president of the automotive products division. In the 1950s, Wavering presented a concept car that included an alternator, a 12-volt battery, electronic ignition, and computerized control. In 1964, he was elected president and chief operating officer of Motorola. He later became vice chairman. He remained at Motorola until he retired in 1972. World War II During World War II, Wavering led a national effort to produce artificial quartz out of silica sand for use in radio and radar. He also co-invented the Handie Talkie (later the Walkie-Talkie), a mobile two-way radio communication device. Later career Wavering worked with Lear in the development of the 8-track tape cartridge player. He worked to help the first industry standards for videocassettes and discs. Wavering led the effort to produce radios for NASA's Lunar rover in the Apollo missions. ==Personal life==

Wavering met Vera Deremiah, a teacher from St. Louis, Missouri, on a sales trip and they married on June 25, 1935. His wife died in 1988. Together, they had one daughter, Lynne, in 1942. ==Death==

Wavering died on November 20, 1998, in Naples, Florida, at the age of 91. ==Awards and legacy==

• War Production "E" Award, for his role in leading efforts to produce artificial quartz during World War II. • 1989 – inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame • 1991 - received the State of Illinois's Order of Lincoln from The Lincoln Academy of Illinois by Governor Jim Edgar ==References==