Walter Lincoln Hawkins
National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Computer Science
For his invention and contribution to the commercialization of long-lived plastic coatings for communications cable that has saved billions of dollars for telephone companies around the world; and for his leadership in encouraging minorities to pursue science and engineering careers.
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Birth
March 21, 1911Age Awarded
81Country of Birth
USAKey Contributions
Plastic Coating For Communications CablesRecycling Of Plastics
Affordable Phone Service To Rural Areas
Awarded by
George H. W. BushEducation
McGill UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Areas of Impact
Communication & InformationAffiliations
AT&T Bell LaboratoriesOther Prizes
National Inventors Hall of FameIn 1942, Walter Lincoln Hawkins became the first African-American to join the technical staff at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories. Hawkins helped make universal telephone service possible by developing a durable plastic to cover telephone wires-- a new material that was lightweight and less expensive than the lead sheathing used at that time.
Scientists had known that lightweight plastics would be a good alternative, but common plastics did not last long outdoors. Hawkins and Vincent Lanza invented a plastic coating that could withstand extreme fluctuations in temperature and last up to seventy years. The new coating saved billions of dollars and enabled the expansion of telephone service around the world, and continues to be used today.
Hawkins, who worked at Bell Labs for 34 years, became assistant director of their chemical research lab in 1974. He became an expert, not only in making plastics last longer, but in recycling these seemingly indestructible products. By the end of his career, Hawkins had received 18 U.S. and 129 foreign patents.
By Jen Santisi