Visionary, inventor, father of the PLC
Richard E. “Dick” Morley(December 1, 1932 – October 17, 2017), best known as one of the fathers of the programmable logic controller, was a leading visionary in the field of advanced technological development. An entrepreneur whose consistent success in the founding of high technology companies was proven through more than three decades of revolutionary achievements, Dick had, among his many accomplishments, more than 20 United States and foreign patents, including the parallel inference machine, hand-held terminal, programmable logic controller, and magnetic thin film.
His MIT-based background in physics provided the insight to become an internationally recognized pioneer in the areas of computer design, artificial intelligence, automation and futurism. As an inventor, author, consultant and engineer, Dick provided the research and development community with world-changing innovations. His peers have acknowledged his contributions with numerous awards, honors and citations. His medals of achievement are from such diverse groups as Inc. Magazine, the Franklin Institute, Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Engineering Society of Detroit. He was also been inducted into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Richard Morley lived on a farm and worked out of his barn in New Hampshire, where he provided a home to 40 foster children. He loved skiing and rode a Sturgis.
Dick Morley and Jesse Yoder co-authored The Tao of Measurement: A Philosophical View of Flow and Sensors