Long Time CE Industry Leader, CES Founder Jack Wayman Dies at Age 92

Jack Wayman in the early days of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

International CES founder and consumer electronics (CE) industry legend Jack Wayman died Saturday, August 30 of natural causes at the age of 92, announced Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro.

“The consumer electronics industry has lost a legend and, more personally, I have lost a great friend and mentor,” said Shapiro. “Jack’s contributions to our association and our industry are numerous and momentous. We stand on his shoulders. From leading the creation of the association that eventually became CEA to founding the International CES to leading the fight for critical legislative and public policy victories that helped drive industry growth, Jack truly was one of the fathers of the contemporary CE industry. His passion for and dedication to our industry inspired us all. We join the entire CE family in expressing our condolences to his family and friends.”

Wayman was named the first director of the Electronic Industries Association’s Consumer Products Division in 1963 and oversaw its evolution from a two-employee operation with a $50,000 budget into the Consumer Electronics Group (CEG) with 50 employees and a $15 million budget. The CEG later became the independent CEA. Wayman is perhaps best known for guiding the association to create and produce the first International CES in 1967, which consisted of 100 exhibitors and 17,000 attendees. He built CES into the world’s premier event for consumer electronics products. The 2014 International CES hosted more than 3,600 exhibitors and 160,000 attendees.

Among Wayman’s career achievements are several victories on the legislative and public policy front— including the groundbreaking Sony Betamax case— that paved the way for the introduction of breakthrough technologies. Wayman continued his involvement with CEA and the CE industry well into his later years, serving as a media spokesperson and as a judge for the CE Hall of Fame. He also continued to mentor CEA staff and serve as an unofficial industry historian.

In addition to being inducted into the inaugural class of the CE Hall of Fame, Wayman has received countless honors from the CE industry. He was awarded the Electronic Industries Association’s (EIA) Distinguished Service Medal and was inducted into the Convention Industries Council Hall of Fame, the Electronic Industries Hall of Fame, and the Video Hall of Fame. Named “Man of the Year” by several industry trade publications, Wayman also was chosen as “Man of the Decade” by Audio/Video magazine.

This past July, CEA made a $1 million contribution to the CEA Foundation in celebration of Wayman’s more than 50 years of achievements and contributions to the consumer technology industry. CEA will honor Wayman with a special tribute service to be held in early November, 2014 in New York City in conjunction with the Anti-Defamation League's annual Consumer Electronics Division Awards Tribute, the CE Hall of Fame Dinner, and CES Unveiled New York.

In addition to his career in the CE industry, Wayman was a proud and decorated U.S. veteran. He served in Europe during WWII as a combat infantry company commander and fought at the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, earning multiple accolades including a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Cluster, and two Presidential Citations, among many others. Last year, Wayman was inducted by the Government of France as a chevalier for his military service.

The only child of a prominent builder in Miami, Wayman served as president of his elementary, junior, and senior high classes and turned down an appointment to West Point at 16. Instead he attended Davidson College in Charlotte, N.C., where he was president of his fraternity, lettered in track and baseball, and was the captain of the school’s top-rated basketball team.

Wayman’s legacy also includes five children, 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The family is holding a small memorial service Friday, September 5th at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Boulder, CO at 10 a.m. MST.

Donations may be made in Jack’s name to Davidson College and the CEA Foundation

CEA has developed a memorial page for those who wish to share their memories of Jack Wayman.

Click here for a video Jack Wayman’s remarks at the 2013 CE Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

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