Gary Kildall

**Gary Arlen Kildall** (May 19, 1942 – July 11, 1994) was a computer scientist and microcomputer entrepreneur. Born to parents Joseph and Emma Kildal, Gary studied math at the University of Washington (UW) because he wanted to become a math teacher. However, he began getting in computer technology. Joseph was the creator of the CP/M operating system and the founder of Digital Research, Inc. (DRI). Kildall was one of the first people to see microprocessors as fully capable computers rather than equipment controllers and to organize a company around this concept.
He also co-hosted the PBS TV show _The Computer Chronicles_. Although his career in computing spanned for more than 20 years, he is most known in connection with IBM's unsuccessful attempt in 1980 to license CP/M for the IBM PC. Gary died from alcoholism and hitting his head in 1994 at the age of 52.

## References

- Kildall, Gary (1973). "A Unified Approach to Global Program Optimization". _Proceedings of the 1st Annual ACM SIGACT-SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages_.
- Manes, Stephen; Paul Andrews (1992). _Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry—and Made Himself the Richest Man in America_ Doubleday. .
- Akass, Clive. Interview: Gordon Eubanks, Former Student & CEO of Oblix, Inc., Recollections of Gary Kildall. DigitalResearch.biz.
- Wallace, James; Jim Erickson (1993), _Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire_, .
- Andrews, Paul. "A Career Spent in Gates' Shadow — Computer Pioneer Dies at 52", _Seattle Times_, July 14, 1994.
- Rolander, Tom (July 15, 1994). Eulogy. Tom Rolander's Website and Album.
- Markoff, John. "Gary Kildall, 52, Crucial Player In Computer Development, Dies", _New York Times_, July 13, 1994, p. D19.
- "Special Edition: Gary Kildall". _The Computer Chronicles_ TV show, 1995.
- Swaine, Michael (April 1, 1997). "Gary Kildall and Collegial Entrepreneurship". _Dr. Dobb's Journal_.
- Wendy Goldman Rohm (1998), _The Microsoft File_, .
- Kirkpatrick, Don (January 12, 1999). comp.os.cpm Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
- Eubanks, Gordon. Interview with Daniel S. Morrow. "Gordon Eubanks Oral History (Computerworld Honors Program International Archives).", Cupertino, CA. November 8, 2000.
- Freiberger, Paul; Michael Swaine [1984] (2000). _Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer_, 2nd edition, New York: McGraw-Hill. .
- Evans, Harold; Gail Buckland; David Lefer (2004). _They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine: Two Centuries of Innovators_. Little, Brown and Co. .
- Hamm, Steve; Jay Greene (October 25, 2004). "The Man Who Could Have Been Bill Gates," _BusinessWeek_.

## Other websites

- Computer Chronicles - Gary Kildall Special. Documentary Video Originally broadcast in 1995.
- Digital Research tribute to Dr. Kildall
- "Kildall, Industry Pioneer"  in _Microprocessor Report_ vol 8, no. 10, August 1, 1994 (pdf format)
- Internet archive of defunct Digital Research website
- The Gary Kildall Legacy  by Sol Libes
- The man who could have been richer than Bill Gates
- Gary Kildall and Collegial Entrepreneurship by Michael Swaine

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Gary Kildall
- **birth place**: Seattle, Washington
- **death place**: Monterey, California
- **alma mater**: University of Washington
- **occupation**: Computer scientist
- **years active**: 1972 - 1994
- **spouse**: Dorothy McEwen Kildall
Karen Kildall