Bill Lower was born in Toronto in 1919. Following military service between 1940 and 1945, he attended the University of Toronto, receiving his B.A. Sc in 1949 having studied X-Ray & Spectropscopy in the Engineering Physics department.

His extensive engineering career involved several Canadian companies; Canadian Arsenals Instrument and Radar Div. (1949-1954), Sonograph Engineering and Manufacturing Co.Ltd. (1954-1959), Canadian Westinghouse Electronics Division (1959-1961), Ferranti-Packard Electronics Division, (1961-1971) and Litton Systems Canada Ltd. (1971-1984). Bill also held directorships with Ferranti-Packard, T-Scan Ltd., Canadian TransLux, and Severn River Patrol Inc.

His professional activities include; membership in the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (now PEO), Past Director of the Electronic Industries Association, and Chairman of the 1969 International Electronics Conference. He joined the IRE in 1951 and is now a Senior Life Member of the IEEE, and currently Secretary of the IEEE Canadian Foundation.

Military Service. In 1940, Bill joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (16th Field Ambulance), and served in the Hospital at New Market Training Camp. In 1941, he transferred to the RCAF as a radio mechanic and took a special course at the University of Toronto. Upon completion of the course. he was promoted to Pilot Officer and received classified training in RDF (later called Radar). In 1942, he served on a RDF site in the UK for active service training transferring to the Middle East Desert Airforce. He served in Palestine,Iraq and Egypt with the 162^nd Squadron and then transferred to a Radar unit located in the Western Desert behind the Alamein Line. After the breakout, he was stationed at Tobruk Libya until he was promoted to Officer Commanding the 871 ^st AMES as Flight Lieutenant. Embarking from Tripoli, he proceeded to the south of Europe via Malta. As a night fighter control unit (GCI) the unit was required to provide front line coverage for 4 D-day assaults namely Pacino Scicily, Salerno Italy, Anzio Italy and St. Tropez France with follow-up. Because of the unique role that 871 ^st AMES played it received a special commendation from RAF Middle East HQ. Bill was awarded a "Mention in Dispatches" and the MBE.

Canadian Arsenals. As Development Engineer, Bill was engaged in the design of radar display systems and modulators for X and S Band Radars. He was promoted to project engineer for the AA4 Mk6 NATO project covering S Band surveillance radar production for European members.

Sonograph Engineering. As Chief Engineer, Bill guided the development and production of mainly magnetic recording systems for office and military air traffic control applications.

Canadian Westinghouse Electronics Div. As Supervisor of Special Projects, Bill undertook responsibility for primarily military projects in missile telemetry, displays and classified projects.

Ferranti-Packard Electronics Division. As Vice-President and General Manager (of a Canadian pioneering operation in the field of digital electronics), Bill was responsible for the development and production of special purpose computer systems & peripherals such as magnetic memory drums, punched paper tape readers, bar code readers and displays. The most popular development was the flip-disc display which is in major service today in the transportation field. In the 1960's before chips became low-cost the major application was in stock exchanges. Systems were supplied to the Montreal Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the exchanges at Sao Paulo & Belo Horizonte Brazil and Tokyo Japan. Research projects were undertaken in the field of cryogenic memories and accelerator magnets and molten carbonate fuel cells.

Litton Systems Canada Limited. As Director & Marketing Manager of Special projects, Bill was engaged in new business development which included airborne search radars, naval information systems, classified digital simulation and modelling & Air Traffic Control systems.