Rod Canion to Speak at UT Tyler

March 28, 2015

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

Compaq Computer Co-Founder to Speak at UT Tyler

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March 28, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

March 27, 2015

Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Executive Director
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303 or 903.330.0495 (cell)

Rod Canion, co-founder and former CEO of Compaq Computer Corporation, will be the next speaker for The University of Texas at Tyler Distinguished Lecture Series, Susan Thomae-Morphew, Cowan Center executive director, announced.

Sponsored by UT Tyler, Canion will conclude the 2014-15 UT Tyler Distinguished Lecture Series. He will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 in the UT Tyler University Center Theater.

The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow the lecture. Media sponsors for the lecture are KYTX CBS 19, KTBB Radio and Suddenlink.

For more information, contact the UT Tyler Cowan Center box office by calling 903.566.7424. Box office hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Only a few seats are left to hear from this accomplished Texan. Canion’s book, Open, tells how Compaq ended IBM’s PC domination and helped invent modern computing. His book will be on sale during the reception and book signing opportunity.”

Canion was the Co-founder of Compaq Computer Corporation in 1982 and served as its chief executive officer from inception through a decade of unprecedented growth and challenges.

During his tenure as CEO, Compaq set records for the largest first-year sales in the history of American business and reached the Fortune 500 and the $1 billion revenue mark faster than any other company in history. By 1991, Compaq employed more than 10,000 people and operated in 65 countries worldwide. Canion left Compaq late in 1991.

Since leaving Compaq, Canion has been involved in a long list of startups and early stage companies as an angel investor, advisor and director. He helped found the Houston Technology Center in 1999 and the Goose Society of Texas in 2005, two organizations focused on encouraging entrepreneurs and helping early stage companies succeed. He is currently a director of Invesco, Ltd., ChaCha Search, Inc., and Houston Methodist Research Institute. He is an advisory director of Encore Health Resources.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.