death_place death_date image_size birth_date article_title education name occupation
naples , florida 27 october 1996 200px 25 april 1922 robert c. pittman
 university of florida robert pittman pilot and entrepreneur
robert c. pittman

robert c. pittman -lrb- april 25 , 1922 -- october 27 , 1996 -rrb- was a us army air forces pilot , electrical engineer , and entrepreneur .
he was awarded the distinguished flying cross for his heroic actions during world war ii , flying more than 250 combat missions over the pacific ocean .
pittman graduated from the university of florida with a degree in electrical engineering in 1950 on a scholarship funded by the g.i. bill .
he went on to work for bell laboratories and international telephone and telegraph in various engineering roles ; he became president of itt 's federal engineering corporation , and later group general manager .
in 1976 , he bought and operated superior cable company , the first manufacturer of fiber-optic cable that later became superior essex .
pittman died on october 27 , 1996 in naples , florida .
