Gary Burrell
American electrical engineer, businessman, and philanthropist
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Gary Leon Burrell (August 24, 1937 – June 12, 2019) was an American electrical engineer, businessman, and philanthropist. He was the co-founder, with Min Kao, and chairman emeritus of Garmin, makers of popular Global Positioning System devices.
August 24, 1937
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (M.S.)
Gary Burrell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gary Leon Burrell August 24, 1937 Stilwell, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | June 12, 2019 (aged 81) Spring Hill, Kansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Wichita State University (B.S., Electrical Engineering) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (M.S.) |
| Occupations | electrical engineer and entrepreneur |
| Known for | co-founder of the Garmin GPS company |
Early life
Gary Burrell was born in 1937. He earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Wichita State University and a master's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[1][2]
Career
Burrell worked for Lowrance Electronics and King Radio Corporation.[2] In the early 1980s, he worked for Allied Signal.[1]
Along with partner Min Kao, Burrell founded Garmin in 1989 to make navigation devices for aviation and boating using the Global Positioning System.[1] Their original office was two folding chairs and a card table. Some U.S. servicemen used Garmin GPS during the first Gulf War, even though Garmin never had a military contract. Later on, the technology was expanded for the U.S. market, providing directions across all United States roads and highways.
Philanthropy
Burrell was a significant donor to the Indian Creek Community Church in Olathe, Kansas.[3]
Awards
In September 2024, Burrell was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio.[4]