Ron Crane
Born(1950-06-01)June 1, 1950
DiedJune 19, 2017(2017-06-19) (aged 67)
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationMIT (BS)
Stanford University (MS)
OccupationElectrical engineer
Known for
  • Invention of the EtherLink controller
  • 3com co-founder
  • Ethernet co-inventor
SpouseRosanne Kermoian Crane (m. 2017)
Scientific career
FieldsComputer networking
InstitutionsXerox PARC
3Com
LAN Media

Ronald Cooper Crane (June 1, 1950 - June 19, 2017) was an American electrical engineer recognized for designing the EtherLink, the first network interface controller for the IBM PC.[1] He was also a co-founder of 3Com and a co-inventor of Ethernet.[2]

Biography

Crane graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He then attended Stanford University initially planning to pursue a doctorate degree in electrical engineering. In 1973, while pursuing his doctorate degree at Stanford, Crane joined the TCP/IP protocol research team, headed by Vint Cerf. In 2005, a "Birth of the Internet" plaque was installed on the Stanford grounds, and Crane's name, among others, is listed on the plaque as being a fundamental contributor to the birth of the Internet.

Crane left Stanford in 1974, accepting a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering instead of his planned doctorate degree, and began to work at the Xerox Systems Development Division, a spinoff of Xerox PARC, where he was responsible for enhancing the original Ethernet transmission system.[3] Crane joined Bob Metcalfe at 3Com as the fourth employee and co-founder in 1979.[4] It was at 3Com where Crane developed the 3C100, the first Thick Ethernet transceiver for the IBM PC, which went on to be the first major product offered by 3Com.[5]

Crane founded LAN Media Corporation in 1992. It was later acquired by SBE Incorporated in 2000, which was, in turn, acquired by Neonode in 2007.[6][7]

In 2006, Crane endowed a professorship at MIT to support energy-related research.[3]

Crane died on June 19, 2017, from complications of an aggressive form of prostate cancer. A memorial event was held at the Computer History Museum and attended by over 100 esteemed colleagues, friends and family. Bob Metcalfe gave the closing speech.[8]

In 2019, a book entitled "The 3Com story" was published, that, in part, documents Crane's contributions to networking and 3Com.

References

  1. ↑ Myslewski, Rik (28 May 2013). "How God and übergeek Ron Crane saved 3Com's bacon". The Register. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Metcalfe, Bob (20 Jun 2017). "Ronald C. Crane passed away yesterday.... MIT '72, Ethernet co-inventor, 3Com co-founder, friend....Rest in peace". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  3. 1 2 Karagianis, Liz (Spring 2006). "Good Energy". MIT Spectrum. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Kirsner, Scott. "The Legend of Bob Metcalfe". WIRED. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "3Com Celebrates 30 Years of Innovation". Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  6. ↑ "SBE Inc. Acquires LAN Media Corporation". news release. San Ramon, California. July 14, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  7. ↑ "SBE and Neonode Announce Execution of Merger Agreement". news release. San Ramon, California: Business Wire. January 22, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Legacy Ron Crane". Legacy.com.


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