Edward G. Uhl

Edward Uhl was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ and was a member of the 1936 class of Jefferson HS. He attended Lehigh University on an ROTC scholarship where he graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1940 with a B.S. in Engineering Physics. As an undergraduate, he was a member of various organizations including the rifle team, the Newtonian Society and served as Treasurer and President of the Physics Society, President of Tau Beta Pi National Honorary Engineering Society, and Post-President of Army Ordnance. Following college, Uhl served as a regular officer in the Ordnance Corps, U.S. Army, from 1941 to 1947. In 1942 he was assigned to Ordinance HQ at the Pentagon as a First Lt. where was the co-inventor of the Bazooka, the first U.S. shoulder-launched rocket. Later in the war, after achieving the rank of Lt. Col., he was assigned to Gen. MacArthur's staff in the Pacific where he served briefly before retiring his commission and returning to civilian life. After resigning from the military, Uhl joined the Glenn L. Martin Company of Middle River, Md. where he was a member of a team directing the Martin Company's efforts to move the company and the country into the new field of rockets. Within two years of joining Martin he became head of “pilotless aircraft” (guided missiles). He rose through the ranks to assume the position of Vice President of Engineering in 1952 and in 1957 he oversaw the building of, and became the Vice President General Manager of, Martin's Orlando plant, which developed and manufactured the LaCrosse, Bullpup, and Pershing missiles. From 1959 to 1961, Uhl was General Manager and Vice President of Technical Administration at Ryan Aeronautical Company for two years before joining Fairchild Industries as its President in 1961. When Mr. Uhl began his career with Fairchild, the company's traditional role was that of manufacturing and servicing military and commercial aircraft. He served as President for 15 years before being named chairman in 1976. During this time the company expanded its capabilities and diversified its business base into new areas utilizing its technological expertise. By the time Uhl retired as Chairman of Fairchild, the company was ranked 260 among the Fortune 500. During his 40 year career in aerospace, Uhl was responsible for managing the Matador, Bullpup and Pershing missiles; the 404, FH227, Metro, Merlin and SF340 commercial aircraft; the P5M, C119 gunship, F105 and the A10 military aircraft; and the Pegasus, ATS 6 and TDRS satellites. The ATS 6 served as a model for today's communication satellites. The A10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft played a major role in destroying the Iraqi tank presence during the Desert Storm War. Uhl received an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree from his alma mater in 1975. Active in Lehigh affairs, he served on several academic committees and was elected to Lehigh University’s Board of Trustees in 1979, serving as Chairman from 1986-1990. Mr. Uhl was a Fellow of the American Rocket Society and long time friend and hunting partner of fellow rocket scientist Werner Von Braun. He was also a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and served as a member of the Board of Nominations for the Aviation Hall of Fame Board, and the Board of Governors for the National Space Club. Upon retirement from Fairchild, Uhl moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland where he was the owner and chairman of Easton Ford for a number of years as well as director of several corporations: First National Bank of Orlando, Maryland National Bank, Vanguard Technologies International Inc., American Satellite Corp., and Bunker Ramo Corp. He was a director of Stabler Companies Inc. and a member of the Board of Trustees of Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Uhl is survived by a wife of 44 years, Mary Stuart Uhl and by his children: Kim Uhl and wife Sara Garland, Washington DC; Scott Uhl and wife Charlene Uhl, Woodbine, Md; Cynthia Uhl, Williamsburg, VA. He is also survived by stepchildren: George Hatcher and wife Kim Hatcher, Easton, Md; William Hatcher, Hagerstown, Md.; a sister, Elizabeth Kalmbach of Malvern, PA; Grandchildren: Stephanie Uhl, Joshua Uhl, Jonathan Uhl, Oliver Nordlinger; and step-grandchildren: George Hatcher, III, Lynn Hatcher, William Hatcher, Jr., Spencer Hatcher, Christian Hatcher. He was predeceased by his daughter, Carol Uhl-Nordlinger, and his wife, Maurine B. Uhl. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donation be made either to Lehigh University in Ed's name or to the Mary Anne Hatcher Fund, C/O Mid Shore Community Foundation, 102 E Dover Street, Easton, MD.

Edward G. Uhl

March 24, 1918 - May 9, 2010