Bill Hewlett Siblings: All About Louise Hewlett

William Redington Hewlett, commonly known as Bill Hewlett, was an American engineer and entrepreneur best remembered as the co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP), a pioneering force in electronics and computing that helped shape Silicon Valley.

Born on May 20, 1913, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he grew up in California after his family relocated when he was three years old due to his father’s faculty position at Stanford University.

Hewlett overcame challenges including dyslexia and the early loss of his father at age twelve, channeling his curiosity into tinkering with electronics and exploring the outdoors.

Siblings

Bill had one sibling, a sister named Louise Hewlett.

Following their father’s death from a brain tumor in 1925, Bill and Louise were sent to France for a year to help the family cope with the tragedy, where their mother and grandmother provided tutoring.

Louise played a notable role in her brother’s personal life by reintroducing him to Flora Lamson, a childhood acquaintance and her friend, who later became Bill’s first wife in 1939.

Career

Hewlett’s professional journey began at Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1934 and later a degree in electrical engineering in 1939.

He met David Packard during his undergraduate years, forging a lifelong partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared engineering passion.

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After further studies at MIT and Cambridge, Hewlett and Packard founded their company in 1939 in a Palo Alto garage with modest capital, starting with the audio oscillator as their first product, which gained early attention from clients like Walt Disney Studios.

Hewlett served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a major, heading an electronics section, before returning to lead HP’s growth.

He held roles including president from 1964 to 1977 and CEO from 1968 to 1978, guiding the company through innovations such as desktop computers, handheld calculators, and laser printers.

His management style emphasized employee trust, innovation, and ethical practices, contributing to HP’s expansion into a major technology corporation.

Accolades

Hewlett was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1983, inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1992, and honored with Stanford University’s “Degree of Uncommon Man” in 1987.

Together with his first wife Flora, he established the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in 1966, which has supported causes in education, arts, environment, and global development.

At the time of his death on January 12, 2001, Hewlett’s legacy endured through HP’s influence on technology and his role in fostering entrepreneurial spirit in Silicon Valley.