Glenn Henry (IT entrepreneur)
Glenn Henry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gaylord Glenn Henry July 26, 1942 Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Computer industry executive, inventor |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Known for | Cofounder of Centaur Technology; IBM Fellow |
Glenn Henry (born Gaylord Glenn Henry on July 26, 1942, in Berkeley, California) is a prominent figure in the American computer industry, known as a cofounder of Centaur Technology and an inventor holding more than 300 US patents. His work has significantly influenced the evolution of personal computers.
Education
Henry completed his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at California State University, Hayward in 1966 and proceeded to obtain a Master of Science in the same field by 1967.
Career
Henry’s professional journey began at IBM, where he dedicated 21 years until 1988. During his tenure, he served as the principal architect and development supervisor for notable projects including the IBM System/32, the IBM System/38 (which later evolved into the IBM AS/400), and the IBM RT PC, a predecessor to Power systems. His contributions earned him the distinction of IBM Fellow in 1985.
In 1988, Henry transitioned to Dell, becoming their inaugural Vice President of Research and Development. By 1993, he had advanced to Senior Vice President with oversight of product lines. While at Dell, he recognized that a $160 wholesale price floor on processors constrained the affordability of personal computers. After departing Dell in 1994, he pursued development of a new Intel-compatible processor with financial support from IDT. This initiative culminated in the establishment of Centaur Technology, which released its first processor in 1997. In 1999, Centaur was acquired by VIA Technologies.
Henry held the position of President at Centaur until entering partial retirement in 2019, continuing to contribute remotely on a part-time basis. Alongside executive leadership, he was actively involved in designing microcode and hardware for Intel-compatible CPUs and co-processors.
Honors
In recognition of his achievements, Henry was awarded the title of IBM Fellow in 1985. He was also named a "Distinguished Alumni" by California State University in 2016. The Computer History Museum included his oral history among their collection highlighting "key pioneers and contributors" in 2017.
Further reading