Hawkins, Walter Lincoln
1911-1992 · Contribution: 1940s-1970s
Weather-resistant plastic coating for telephone cables
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
His durable plastic cable coating dramatically extended the lifespan of telephone infrastructure, helping expand affordable telephone access nationwide. His cable insulation technology also extended the durability of military communications infrastructure.
Life & background
A scientist at Bell Laboratories, Hawkins developed weather-resistant plastic coatings for telephone cables that significantly extended their durability, helping make telephone service more reliable and widely accessible.
Sources
- National Inventors Hall of Fame; Lemelson-MIT; African American Registry
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