Centenarian Profile
George Eberhardt
Age: 107
Born: September 29, 1904
From: Chester, NJ
United States
United States
Affiliation
In the last 100 years, what invention had the most impact on your life? Why?
The telephone. It seemed like magic because it allowed people to transmit ideas in real time. It also was the focus of many projects throughout my career at Bell Labs, where I worked to develop telephone communications between continents and improve its quality. We got our first phone in about 1921.
What was your favorite decade? Why?
The 1920s. There was so much technological advancement going on, I had my first job doing engineering work, and the country was thriving financially.
What advice would you give to a high school graduate today?
Always ask questions. You can always keep learning.
What leader in the past century impressed you the most? Why?
Teddy Roosevelt. He was always in the middle of the action and present when big events were happening. Another person was Charlie Litton, President of Litton Industries. I worked with him at Bell Labs and he showed me the vacuum tubes he made in high school. He invented the best magnetron, which the armed forces used.
