Seymour Cray

Inducted in the Class of 1998

Notable accomplishments:

• Known as the “Father of Supercomputers”
• Helped design the Univac / Era 1103, the world’s first scientific computer
• Co-founded (with William Norris) Control Data Corporation in 1957
• Led design of the CDC 1604, 3000, 6600 and 7600 computers
• Founded Cray Research in 1972 and designed the Cray-1
• Founded Cray Computer Corp. in 1989

Quotes:
“One of my guiding principles is don’t do anything that other people are doing. Always do something a little different if you can. The concept is that if you do it a little differently there is a greater potential for reward than if you the same thing that other people are doing.” (Interview with the Smithsonian Institution, May 9, 1995)

“Speed has always been important otherwise one wouldn’t need the computer.” (Interview with the Smithsonian Institution, May 9, 1995)

“Thank heaven for start-up companies or we’d never make any progress.” (As quoted in “The Supermen: The Story of Seymour Cray and the Technical Wizards Behind the Supercomputer,” by Charles J. Murray)

Suggested reading:
“The Supermen: The Story of Seymour Cray and the Technical Wizards Behind the Supercomputer,” by Charles J. Murray (1997)

Learn more:
Tribute to Seymour Cray at the IEEE Computer Society

Company history at Cray Inc.