Leon Davidson
Encyclopedia
Leon Davidson was a chemical engineer and scientist, one of the team that developed the atomic bomb.
(BS) and Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science (MA, PhD), majoring in Chemical Engineering, a career he selected at the age of 13 while a student at Stuyvesant High School
in New York City
. While a graduate student at the Columbia School of Engineering, he was personally selected by the Dean, John R. Dunning
, to join the Manhattan Project
, the US atomic bomb development program. After an assignment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
in Tennessee
, he moved his family to Los Alamos, New Mexico
, where he eventually became an engineering design supervisor for one of the atomic weapons then under development. He then accepted assignments at the Atomic Energy Commission
(AEC) and The Pentagon
in Washington before moving into the private sector.
, entering the emerging field of computer technology and development. Following stints in management at several large technology companies including Union Carbide
, Teleregister, Western Union
, General Precision Laboratories, and IBM
where he was Manager of Advanced Applications Development, he became an independent consultant, working for both government clients including Oak Ridge National Laboratories and commercial clients including Mini-Computer Systems of Elmsford, NY.
On the side, he formed his own technology consulting and design company (Metroprocessing Corporation of America) to explore and exploit the emerging technology of touch-tone dialing (now used for push-button telephones). His goal was to make Metroprocessing the single source of information on the application of the twelve button touch tone telephone
to private companies and public agencies.
. He devoted much of his free time to the study of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). He convinced a Congressional Committee to force the Air Force
to permit him to publish and distribute, in its entirety, the Air Force's Project Blue Book
Special Report No. 14, the primary source book on the Air Force’s findings related to UFO’s.
An avid thinker, Leon spent many hours analyzing major national and world events including the Kennedy assassination, questionable Presidential elections, and the Jonestown (Guyana) Massacre
.
Leon died in White Plains Hospital on New Year's Day 2007. His ashes are buried in White Plains, New York, He is succeeded by his wife, Doris, his 3 children (Ed, Carole, and Martha), his two granddaughters (Leah and Rachel), and his three great-grandsons (Alex, Wesley, and Nathan).
Education and early career
Leon was a graduate of Columbia CollegeColumbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
(BS) and Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science (MA, PhD), majoring in Chemical Engineering, a career he selected at the age of 13 while a student at Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While a graduate student at the Columbia School of Engineering, he was personally selected by the Dean, John R. Dunning
John R. Dunning
John Ray Dunning was an American physicist who played key roles in the development of the atomic bomb. He specialized in neutron physics and did pioneering work in gaseous diffusion for isotope separation...
, to join the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, the US atomic bomb development program. After an assignment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, he moved his family to Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
, where he eventually became an engineering design supervisor for one of the atomic weapons then under development. He then accepted assignments at the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
(AEC) and The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
in Washington before moving into the private sector.
Post war career
In the mid-1950s, he joined the Nuclear Development Corporation of America in White Plains, New YorkWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, entering the emerging field of computer technology and development. Following stints in management at several large technology companies including Union Carbide
Union Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It currently employs more than 2,400 people. Union Carbide primarily produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers before reaching consumers. Some are high-volume...
, Teleregister, Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
, General Precision Laboratories, and IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
where he was Manager of Advanced Applications Development, he became an independent consultant, working for both government clients including Oak Ridge National Laboratories and commercial clients including Mini-Computer Systems of Elmsford, NY.
On the side, he formed his own technology consulting and design company (Metroprocessing Corporation of America) to explore and exploit the emerging technology of touch-tone dialing (now used for push-button telephones). His goal was to make Metroprocessing the single source of information on the application of the twelve button touch tone telephone
Push-button telephone
The push-button telephone was first invented in 1941, and is a telephone with push-buttons or keys, and which eventually replaced rotary dial telephones that were first used in 1891. The first push-button telephone was invented in the labs of Bell Telephone; however, these models were only...
to private companies and public agencies.
Personal life
In the mid-to-late 1950s, Leon volunteered at the Civil Defense Filter Center in White Plains, helping track and identify aircraft flying over the New York metropolitan areaNew York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
. He devoted much of his free time to the study of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). He convinced a Congressional Committee to force the Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
to permit him to publish and distribute, in its entirety, the Air Force's Project Blue Book
Project Blue Book
Project Blue Book was one of a series of systematic studies of unidentified flying objects conducted by the United States Air Force. Started in 1952, it was the second revival of such a study...
Special Report No. 14, the primary source book on the Air Force’s findings related to UFO’s.
An avid thinker, Leon spent many hours analyzing major national and world events including the Kennedy assassination, questionable Presidential elections, and the Jonestown (Guyana) Massacre
Jonestown
Jonestown was the informal name for the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, an intentional community in northwestern Guyana formed by the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones. It became internationally notorious when, on November 18, 1978, 918 people died in the settlement as well as in a nearby...
.
Leon died in White Plains Hospital on New Year's Day 2007. His ashes are buried in White Plains, New York, He is succeeded by his wife, Doris, his 3 children (Ed, Carole, and Martha), his two granddaughters (Leah and Rachel), and his three great-grandsons (Alex, Wesley, and Nathan).
External links
- http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/may_jun07/obituaries.php