William F. Troxler
Inducted in 2015William F. Troxler is a native North Carolinian who attended North Carolina State University on the GI Bill after serving in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII. He received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1952.
Following his graduation, he worked for the U.S. Army Research Command in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. It was here that he realized there was a great need for sophisticated testing equipment in the post war economic boom. He returned to Raleigh and after doing some post graduate work in electrical engineering, he started his own company. Beginning in the basement of his home in Raleigh, he pioneered the development and production of the nuclear testing and measuring devices used in the construction and agricultural industries. He also designed special devices for NASA, which were used in the first scientific satellites launched in the early 1960’s.
Under his direction, the company, Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. grew from a one-man basement operation to its present size of 110,000 square feet and approximately 86 full-time employees. In addition to this facility, which is located in the Research Triangle Park, Troxler has offices in Germany, China, Canada and seven other U.S. cities.
Since the inception of his company in 1956, Mr. Troxler has been involved in innumerable activities and organizations in his industry and his community.
His past affiliations include: The Transportation Research Board, the American Society of Testing Materials, International Road Federation Board of Directors, Construction Industry Manufacturers Association, General Chairman International Conference on Industrial Radiation and Radioisotope Measurement Applications, National Research Council, Civil Engineering Research Foundation, Senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Governor’s Task Force on Science and Technology, Highway Innovation Steering Committee, Chairman of the North Carolina State University Engineering Advisory Council, President of the North Carolina World Trade Association – 1971-1972.
His awards include: 1985 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award for North Carolina State University, 1972 President’s “E” Award for Outstanding Contribution to Export Expansion, 1981 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting, Honor society of Phi Kappa Phi for outstanding engineering accomplishments.