In Marin County California, a small group of people got together January 30, 1982 and formed Autodesk. As founder John Walker stated “the game has changed.”
36 years later Autodesk is a rare technology company that is still around, innovating, evolving, and helping our customers imagine, design, and create a better world.
Autodesk Flying Founders
From left to right:
Rudolf Künzli, Mike Ford, Dan Drake, Mauri Laitinen, Greg Lutz, David Kalish, Lars Moureau, Richard Handyside,Kern Sibbald, Hal Royaltey, Duff Kurland, John Walker, Keith Marcelius
”Autodesk Founders. They didn’t walk on water, but they could fly pretty well.”
Other big Autodesk dates:
Autodesk incorporates on April 26,1982
AutoCAD is shown at COMDEX November 24th, 1982
Shaan, I wish I had seen this blog earlier I would have been able to add to your Autodesk history collection. My dad was one of the flying founders and I grew up seeing that picture displayed in his office. We got rid of some of his old Autodesk stuff when he passed away because we did not know anyone who might have wanted it. If you would be interested in some of the Autodesk memorabilia that pops up occasionally between me and all my sisters let me know.
There is a great set of pictures from a Halloween party where they all decorated pumpkins to look like themselves.
-N
Oh yeah, I remember those pumpkins! Maybe you just had to be there for a lot of the moments, but I’m grateful that I was there for some of the stories, culture and accomplishments of the people I met while working on the juggernaut that Autodesk became, and deservedly so. Stay hungry, rats!
Thank you, I wish you had known as well. I would absolutely be interested in Autodesk history whether the physical objects or jut a photo of it. I love preserving the history of the company and all the amazing deskers of the past 36 years and the many to come.
You can email me anytime at shaan @ autodesk,com
Shaan
I will never forget working with you and your deep dive classes on AutoCAD source code back in the days of grep.
Shaan