BASc
2T8 Electrical
Inducted:1990
As a youth Frank Pounsett was an amateur radio operator using hand-made equipment from 1918 to 1924, before licenses were issued in Canada.
Upon graduation in electrical engineering, he joined the De Forest Radio Corporation in Toronto, designing radio receivers, including the first car radios for General Motors of Canada. In 1934, he went with Stewart Warner Alemite corp. in Belleville, Ontario, as Chief Engineer of their new radio division, specializing in car radios for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
With the outbreak of war, he was appointed chief Engineer of the Radio division of Research Enterprises, with major responsibilities for the design and production of radar equipment for the Armed Forces. During the early years of the war, he was also posted to Washington in connection with the supply of radar to the U.S. Research Enterprises became one of the main suppliers of radar equipment to the Allied Armed Forces during World War II.
In 1952, he joined the Canadian Radio Manufacturing Corp. at Leaside, Ontario, soon to be absorbed by Philips Electronics Industries, where he became Manager of the Professional Equipment Division, and later as Vice- President and General Manager of the Consumer Products Division.
From 1967, he was actively engaged in the establishment of Centennial College of Arts & Technology, later appointed Dean of the Engineering Technology Division.
Over the years he has been very much involved in the activities of the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) and the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEEE) as chairman of the Toronto Section and Director of the Canadian Region.
His important work during the war on radar development and manufacture has been recognized by his nomination as a Fellow of the Institute of Radio Engineers.
Achievements:
- Early design of car radio equipment
- Chief Engineer, Radio division, REL
- Vice-President and general Manager Consumer Products Division, Philips Electronic Industries
- Chairman Toronto Section IRE and Director, Canadian Region
- Fellow, Institute of Radio Engineers