24 Facts About Russell Varian

Russell Varian brothers' parents, John and Agnes Russell Varian, were born and raised in Ireland, and were members of the Theosophical Society in Dublin.

John Russell Varian became a leader of the Temple of the People at Halcyon, worked as a chiropractor and masseur, wrote theosophist poetry and socialist tracts, and pursued an interest in Irish myth and history.

Russell Varian was named in honor of the poet "Æ", George Russell Varian, whom John had befriended in Ireland.

Russell Varian was dyslexic, and in his childhood he was considered by many to be "slow", although later events would demonstrate the true extent of his intellect; Sigurd was the more outgoing of the older two siblings.

Russell Varian earned bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from Stanford University, compensating for his learning disabilities with what was described as hard work and "sheer force of will".

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Russell Varian completed his master's degree in 1927, and went to work at Humble Oil, staying there for five months and receiving a patent for a vibrating magnetometer.

Russell Varian worked as a barnstormer and later as a pilot for Pan American Airways, at a time when the company developed new routes into Latin America.

Russell Varian realized how difficult it was to land safely or to detect other planes at night or when it was overcast.

Russell Varian agreed, and they both quit their jobs, set up their own lab at Halcyon, and began developing plans for a device that could precisely determine the location and direction of an airplane.

Russell Varian gained patents for technology related to nuclear magnetic resonance, as used in magnetic resonance imaging, thermionic tubes, and various radar technologies.

Russell Varian was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

Russell Varian was named alumnus of the year by California State Polytechnic College for inventing the Klystron.

Russell Varian began with six full-time employees: the Varian brothers, Dorothy, Myrl Stearns, Fred Salisbury, and Don Snow.

Russell Varian served as the company president and a board member until his death; Sigurd served as vice president for engineering, and served on the board of directors until his death, sometimes serving as chairman of the board.

Russell Varian had a career in the central California coast as an electrical contractor, and, beginning in the early 1960s, assisted the work of his daughter, Sheila Varian, in building a horse ranch, and she became a notable breeder of Arabian horses.

Russell Varian was a longtime member of the Sierra Club and, as part of the organization's conservation committee, worked on efforts to acquire land to further the conservation efforts of the organization.

Russell Varian was a member of the League for Civic Unity and the ACLU.

Russell Varian liked to sing Irish ballads learned from his father.

Russell Varian's was the daughter of the British Consul at Vera Cruz.

Russell Varian died of a heart condition in 1959 on a hiking trip in Alaska.

Russell Varian had been scouting locations that were being considered for national parks.

Russell Varian's wrote a biography of Russell and Sigurd, titled The Inventor and the Pilot: Russell and Sigurd Varian, published in 1983.

Russell Varian had lived the last three years of his life at Puerto Vallarta.

Russell Varian left an estate worth over $3 million, with one-fourth going to "The Sigurd F Varian and Winifred H Varian Charitable Foundation, " a chief beneficiary of which was a hospital in Puerto Vallarta.