Henry Blair Tyson

MIDDLETON - Henry Blair Tyson died at his home in Middleton, Wis., on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, aged 92 years. Born in New York City and raised on the East Coast, he left college to join the U.S. Air Force at the outset of the war in Korea. He served in Japan and Korea as a radar mechanic. After four years of service, Blair attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering, graduating with a degree in electronic engineering. He learned digital computers at his first job with RCA in Camdem, N.J. Blair joined General Motors in Milwaukee to help bring digital design to their space programs, working on the Titan ICBM guidance and then on guidance systems for the Apollo program. He became the Engineering Director responsible for all major subcontracted subsystems including computers, laser and optical systems. Blair moved to the GM Engineering Staff in Detroit to support the integration of electronics in automobiles. When GM established a division to investigate entry into various public transportation activities, he moved to that field, becoming Chief Engineer in 1980. When GM bought Electronic Data Systems from Ross Perot in 1984, Blair joined EDS as Director of Systems Engineering for GM Operations, later transferring to Washington, DC to support the EDS Federal Systems Division. When EDS bought a small electronic publishing company in Lakewood, Calif., he moved there, eventually becoming President of the company which he then dismantled. He retired from GM/EDS in 1989 and moved to Middleton, Wis. Blair is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Faulkner); son, Nicolas Tyson; daughter-in-law, Kari (Lieberman) Tyson; son, Douglas Tyson; and brother, David Tyson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Blair and Eleanor (Gilligan) Tyson. A private family remembrance will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Ave. (608) 831-6761