Passing of an Automation Legend

Oct. 18, 2017

The “father of the PLC,” Dick Morley, has passed—but not without leaving a legacy that forever changed industrial automation.

David Greenfield, editor in chief

In an industry where few innovators receive widespread recognition, Richard “Dick” Morley was an exception—and for good reason. Morley was considered to be the “father of the PLC (programmable logic controller)” based on his involvement in the production of the first PLC—the Modicon (MOdular DIgital CONtroller). He passed away on October 17, 2017.

Though his work in developing the first PLC is what Morley was most known for, he remained active on the engineering, manufacturing and automation fronts through his work with the ISA and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, among others.

Over the years, Automation World interviewed and published contributions from Morley on numerous occasions. Following are a few links to content published by Automation World relevant to Morley.

Thank you, Dick, for all you did for industry and the world of automation.

About the Author

David Greenfield, editor in chief | Editor in Chief

David Greenfield joined Automation World in June 2011. Bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and media experience to his position, David’s contributions can be found in AW’s print and online editions and custom projects. Earlier in his career, David was Editorial Director of Design News at UBM Electronics, and prior to joining UBM, he was Editorial Director of Control Engineering at Reed Business Information, where he also worked on Manufacturing Business Technology as Publisher.