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This is the 28th volume of Memorial Tributes compiled by the National Academy of Engineering as a personal remembrance of the lives and outstanding achievements of its members and international members. These volumes are intended to stand as an enduring record of the many contributions of engineers and engineering to the benefit of humankind. In most cases, the authors of the tributes are contemporaries or colleagues who had personal knowledge of the interests and the engineering accomplishments of the deceased. Through its members and international members, the Academy...
This is the 28th volume of Memorial Tributes compiled by the National Academy of Engineering as a personal remembrance of the lives and outstanding achievements of its members and international members. These volumes are intended to stand as an enduring record of the many contributions of engineers and engineering to the benefit of humankind. In most cases, the authors of the tributes are contemporaries or colleagues who had personal knowledge of the interests and the engineering accomplishments of the deceased. Through its members and international members, the Academy carries out the responsibilities for which it was established in 1964.
Under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering was formed as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. Members are elected on the basis of significant contributions to engineering theory and practice and to the literature of engineering or on the basis of demonstrated unusual accomplishments in the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology. The National Academies share a responsibility to advise the federal government on matters of science and technology. The expertise and credibility that the National Academy of Engineering brings to that task stem directly from the abilities, interests, and achievements of our members and international members, our colleagues and friends, whose special gifts we remember in this book.
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BY RICHARD B. BROWN SUBMITTED BY THE NAE HOME SECRETARY
JOHN EDWARD WARNOCK, a University of Utah alumnus, computer graphics pioneer, and co-founder of Adobe, passed away on Aug. 19, 2023, at age 82. His revolutionary contributions to computer science and his enduring legacy of philanthropy left an indelible mark on technology, education, and creativity.
John was born on Oct. 6, 1940, in Holladay, Utah. He was the son of Dorothy (Van Dyke) and Clarence Warnock, a lawyer. Inspired by a high school math teacher, he went from failing ninth-grade mathematics to solving every problem in his college algebra and trigonometry books — an achievement that led him to the math department at the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961 and a master’s in 1964, both in mathematics.
Inspired by his post-graduation job with International Business Machines (IBM), John returned to the university to earn a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science in 1969. The latter field was still in its infancy, but professors David C. Evans (NAE 1978) and Ivan Sutherland (NAE 1973) were establishing fundamental ways the world now interacts with computers.
John’s doctoral thesis, “A hidden surface algorithm for computer generated halftone pictures,” introduced what became known as the “Warnock Algorithm.” This innovation addressed a key challenge in 3D rendering: how to represent parts of an object obscured from the user’s point of view. The algorithm became a foundational contribution to computer graphics and informed much of his later work.
He continued his work in computer graphics at Evans & Sutherland (E&S), the pioneering computer graphics company founded by his mentors. In the late 1970s, he joined Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where he met Charles Geschke (NAE 1995), a fellow computer scientist who would become a close collaborator and lifelong friend. At PARC, John and Geschke developed Interpress, a printer protocol designed to render images and text accurately from a computer to a printer. But Xerox declined to commercialize the technology, prompting them to leave and co-found Adobe in 1982.
Named after Adobe Creek, which ran near John’s home, Adobe quickly became a leader in digital technology. The company’s first major innovation was PostScript, a page description language that revolutionized the printing industry. PostScript allowed computers to communicate with printers in a way that ensured the final output matched what users saw on their screens—an approach that became known as “what you see is what you get.”
Apple integrated PostScript into its LaserWriter printer, released in 1985, marking the beginning of desktop publishing. The technology democratized publishing, enabling individuals and small businesses to produce professional-quality documents without costly equipment.
In 1993, Adobe released the Portable Document Format (PDF) as part of John’s “Camelot Project,” fulfilling his long-held goal of creating a universal format for sharing documents across different platforms and systems. The PDF provided a reliable way to preserve the appearance of text and images, regardless of the hardware or software used.
The PDF was not an immediate success — even Adobe’s board of directors questioned its viability. But John’s persistence paid off. He demonstrated how the format could digitize paper-based workflows and save companies millions of dollars by reducing printing and distribution costs. Today, the PDF is ubiquitous, used by governments, businesses, and individuals around the world.
Under his leadership, Adobe developed a suite of software products that became cornerstones of digital creativity. Programs, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, transformed industries from graphic design to photography to publishing. These tools empowered artists and professionals to push creative boundaries, making the digital canvas as versatile as traditional media. John held 20 patents and remained an active inventor and advisor even after stepping down as Adobe’s chief executive officer in 2001.
His achievements earned him numerous accolades. In 2009, President Barack Obama presented him and Geschke with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. In 2000, John received the Edwin H. Land Medal for “his significant contributions to the advancement of image processing via software and his personification of the spirit of Edwin H. Land.” He was also awarded the Marconi Prize in 2010 “for his contributions in the field of industry-standard printing and imaging technology,” and the 2008 Computer Entrepreneur Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1996.
Beyond his technical contributions, he and his wife, Marva, supported the University of Utah with a transformative $6 million donation that enabled the construction of the John and Marva Warnock Engineering Building. I remember John’s remarks at the groundbreaking for that building. He said that when he was a young man, he needed the College of Engineering, so when he learned that the College of Engineering needed him, he couldn’t say no. The Warnocks’ support also funded two Presidential Endowed Chairs in Computer Science, as well as chairs in global ophthalmology and mathematics, and an artist-in-residence program in art. Their generosity continues to impact thousands of students.
John is survived by his wife, Marva; their three children, Christopher, Jeffrey, and Alyssa; and four grandchildren. His contributions will forever shape the way we create, share, and experience the digital world.