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OCR for page 239
RICHARD WILLIAM ROBERTS
1935-1978
BY ARTHUR M. BUECHE
R ICHARD W. ROBERTS, Staff Executive of the General Electric
Company, died suddenly at his home in Wilton, Connecticut, on
January 17, 1978. Dr. Roberts had gained a reputation as an
outstanding administrator of research and development, both in
private industry and the Federal Government. At the time of his
death, he was carrying out a comprehensive study of technology in
the General Electric Company.
Dr. Roberts was born on January 12, 1935, in Buffalo, New
York. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry, with distinc-
tion, from the University of Rochester in 1956 and his doctorate in
physical chemistry from Brown University in 1959, with a thesis on
the scattering of atomic and molecular beams.
He served as a National Academy of Sciences Postdoctora] Fellow
at the Bureau of Standards in 1959-60 and then joined the staff of
the Genera] Electric Research Laboratory (now the GE Research
and Development Center) as a physical chemist. His initial work
was in chemical kinetics and surface chemistry. He quickly also
became an internationally recognized authority in ultrahigh-
vacuum science and technology and on the properties of atomically
clean metals.
Among his outstanding research achievements was his discovery
of iodine-based lubricants for difficult-to-lubricate metals. His
high-vacuum research indicated that thin film compounds of
iodine and metal would significantly reduce friction. He and
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Robert S. Owens went on to show that iodine dissolved in certain
organic liquids performed far better than any other known lubri-
cant in rotating equipment and metalworking applications involv-
ing titanium, stainless steels, and superalloys.
In 1965, Dr. Roberts received the first of several successive
management positions at the General Electric Research and De-
velopment Center. Within three years, he had become Research
and Development Manager of Materials Science and Engineering,
directing the efforts of 250 scientists and engineers.
"Dick Roberts' achievements as a manager," a close associate has
written, "grew out of his ability to motivate People." Another has
r - - r
noted, "He never started a conversation by telling me what he was
doing; he always told me, with understandable pride, what his
people were doing."
Among his people's achievements during his five years' tenure
were the first laboratory production of gem quality diamonds;
unique cutting tools for machining space-age materials; new
polymers and composites; a wide variety of medical diagnostic
devices; and (anticipating the emergence of the energy crisis) the
launching of major programs in coal gasification, improved turbine
efficiency, and energy storage.
In February 1973, Dr. Roberts was named Director of the
National Bureau of Standards. He led that organization through a
challenging period, when in addition to maintaining its outstand-
ing programs in the physical sciences, product testing, and en-
vironmental areas, the Bureau also underwent a fivefold increase
in its energy-related work.
In June 1975 he accepted the challenging assignment of Assis-
tant Administrator for Nuclear Energy in the newly created Energy
Research and Development Administration (ERDA). His respon-
sibilities ranged over such areas as technical work on civilian
nuclear reactors, research and development on the proposed
breeder reactor, and application of nuclear propulsion to naval
1'
uses. In this job he displayed extraordinary talent for communicat-
ing with people on all levels, and he earned the respect of long-
established leaders in the nation's nuclear programs.
In 1977 he accepted a position on the Corporate Staft of General
. , , . Hi,
240
OCR for page 241
Electric, with the special assignment of directing a comprehensive
Corporate Technology Study, aimed at formulating policies for the
management, generation, and use of technology.
Dr. Roberts was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
in 1977. He was a 1975 recipient of the Arthur S. Fleming Award
as one of the ten outstanding young men in the Federal Govern-
ment, and he was a 1965 winner of an "I-R 100" Award from
Industrial Research magazine for his work on iodine lubricants. He
was a member of numerous scientific and honorary societies,
including Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. His scientific and techni-
cal work resulted in over 70 papers and 3 U.S. patents. He was
coauthor with Thomas A. Vanderslice of the book Ultrahigh Vac-
uum and its Applications (19631. He became an effective spokesman
on technology policy, presenting his views in more than forty
general addresses and papers.
Dick Roberts' rapid ascent into important positions of business
and government responsibility evidenced his drive, toughness, and
productivity. But these qualities were tempered by realism about
what people and technologies could accomplish, graceful cordial-
ity, and empathy with others. "He was attuned to the feelings of
others," a friend has said. "He could always come up with a note or
notion that was personal and special, for secretaries and Nobel
laureates alike." He further balanced his immersion in the pres-
sures of Government and industrial bureaucracy by a love of
nature, as expressed through camping in the Adirondack Moun-
tains and through collecting a library of the history and tradition of
that region.
In all, Richard W Roberts possessed a rare combination of
scientific talent, managerial ability, and personal qualities. The
nation has few young leaders of his caliber, making his death all the
more tragic.
241
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
electric research
