10 Facts About Willard Boyle

Willard Boyle was a pioneer in the field of laser technology and co-inventor of the charge-coupled device.

Willard Boyle was home schooled by his mother until age fourteen, when he attended Montreal's Lower Canada College to complete his secondary education.

Willard Boyle attended McGill University, but his education was interrupted in 1943, when he joined the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.

Willard Boyle was loaned to the Royal Navy, where he was learning how to land Spitfires on aircraft carriers as the war ended.

Willard Boyle gained a BSc in 1947, an MSc in 1948, and a PhD in 1950, all from McGill.

In 1953 Willard Boyle joined Bell Labs where he invented the first continuously operating ruby laser with Don Nelson in 1962, and was named on the first patent for a semiconductor injection laser.

Willard Boyle was made director of Space Science and Exploratory Studies at the Bell Labs subsidiary Bellcomm in 1962, providing support for the Apollo space program and helping to select lunar landing sites.

Willard Boyle returned to Bell Labs in 1964, working on the development of integrated circuits.

Willard Boyle was Executive Director of Research for Bell Labs from 1975 until his retirement in 1979.

Willard Boyle was married to Betty since 1946 and had four children, 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.