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This Blog is provided in conjunction with the DSD Reunion Website for the benefit of past Litton Data Systems Division employees.  This is a private venture and your right to use the Blog is strictly under the control of the WebMaster.

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William J Allison 1/29/1954 – 2/14/2021

From the pen of Jim Arthur:

All of us who worked with and for William (Bill) J. Allison at DSD have stories we could share. Do you remember the contest winning paper boat in Ocean Springs? The all-hands meetings in rented movie theaters? Seeing our engineering friends out on grass in Agoura Hills putting together catapult kits with and without a manual?

I am sorry to have to announce Bill’s death from Covid 19 in Fresno, California on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2021.

You probably remember the following litany of his changing job titles from Litton and Northrop Grumman company announcements:

Bill entered the defense electronics industry not with the usual electrical engineering degree, but rather with a B.S. degree in chemistry from California State University San Luis Obispo. He later obtained an executive M.B.A. from the Pepperdine and a PhD (ABD) from the Claremont.

Bill started his professional career as a quality engineer at the Northrop’s Electronics Division. He moved on to manage an engineering laboratory at GM Hughes Electronics.

Bill joined Data Systems Division in 1992 as the Director of Quality. A year later he was appointed Vice President, Product Assurance and Support. In 1994 Bill was named Vice President and General Manager of Data Systems Ocean Springs.

He returned to Agoura Hills in 1998 to be the Vice President of Engineering.

In 2000 Bill became Data System Division’s President.

Following a pre-acquisition reorganization of Litton in 2000, Bill was placed in charge of the newly formed Litton Integrated Systems Division headquartered in Northridge, California.

Seven months later, with the acquisition of Litton Industries by Northrop Grumman Corporation completed, Northrop Announced the formation of the new Navigation Systems Division which absorbed the former Litton Divisions Guidance and Control, Aero Products (Woodland Hills, CA); Integrated Systems (Northridge, CA); Litton Systems Canada, Toronto; and foreign subsidiaries, two in German and one in Italy. Bill was named its Vice President and General Manager.

Bill left Northrop Grumman in 2003. He purchased a landscaping business and remained in the landscape services business until the time of his death.

My first conversation with Bill occurred over the phone in 1992 after he had interviewed for the Director of Quality job. I had been out of town when he met the other Division staff members. I learned that he, like me, would be leaving a position with Hughes to join Litton. I told him about my experience making such a move, candidly pointing out to him what was, and what had not been true, and why I thought his age and experience added up to taking the chance. Years later, when we were alone during in the midst of some crisis at Northridge, Bill turned to me and said, “This is all your fault!” Before I could respond he told me, with a smile on his face, that before that phone call he had decided not to accept the Litton offer.

The Northridge “so-called” division was actually cobbled together from all the programs and business units Northrop Grumman had indicated it wasn’t interested in acquiring and Bill was sent to run it. Among the biggest losers was a 12-ship Navy rehab program. I was at the motel meeting where Bill brought his new management team together to plan the division’s future. It was at that meeting that he did something I had never seen anyone I had ever worked for do.

All of us who had attended graduate business school classes in the 1960’s and 1970’s knew about decision tree analyses where each possible outcome of a decision is placed on a branch and assigned a probability of its potential cost or benefit. Bill put each of our troubled programs on the tree and included a branch for everyone entitled the impossible “Get out of the contract” with a zero probability.

For the ships program he assigned a small team led by the courteous but tenacious Bill Bowes to do the impossible by reaching an agreement with the Navy. The team succeeded, preventing a quarter of a billion dollar loss. This achievement and the salvaging of other problem programs allowed Northrop Grumman to acquire the entire company. His efforts were recognized by Northrop Grumman’s management and he was made President of the new and much larger, Navigation Systems Division.

Bill was the top ROTC cadet at Cal Poly and as such was slated to achieve his goal of starting a military career by receiving a regular commission in the U.S Army. However during his final entrance physical examination he learned he had diabetes and would not become a soldier. He told me he believed on that day he knew diabetes would eventually kill him. Along with the help of Covid 19, he was right.

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David & Peggy Sadler Memorial

Click on picture for Memorial video.

David Sadler served as a Corporate Financial executive for Litton Systems, Inc. and Litton Industries for several years after a successful career at Litton Guidance & Control Systems.

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“My Story” by Marvin Mallon

Submitted to the DSD Reunion Reflector July 9, 2018

My name is Marvin Mallon and I am 90 years old. That just possibly makes me the oldest living ex-DSD employee. Let me explain why I say that.

I got out of the Army in 1947 and knocked around L.A. for a few years before landing a job in 1950 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City. I saw Howard walking the halls a few times. We all thought that was something special because he was a legend then.

In 1954, two top executives at Hughes named “Tex” Thornton and Roy Ash had a falling out with Howard and decided to quit and form their own company. They needed money, a company name, employees, contracts and a building to work in.

They obtained all the financing they required through their many contacts in Washington (Defense Secretary McNamara had worked for “Tex” many years before). For employees, they reached back to Hughes Aircraft and hired my boss who hired me and so I became the 28th employee of their new company.

For a company name they chose to buy a small firm in San Carlos, California that was incorporated saving them the trouble of having to go through that lengthy process. Charlie Litton owned the company and he was an inventor who was producing magnetrons and other microwave equipment. Thus the new venture became Litton Industries.

They then bought a sizable manufacturing building that also had executive offices at 336 N. Foothill Blvd in Beverly Hills that was previously owned by the Brother Sewing Machine Company. My first job was helping to clean out the machine parts that were left behind.

For their first military contracts, they were aided by their acquaintances in Washington and landed a contract building radar equipment for a Navy installation at Point Mugu, California. I’ve got a photo of me and others working at the drafting board with the radar scopes in the background.

A few years went by and Litton became big enough to split off into a few divisions. That was when Guidance and Control was born. I was shuffled off to Data Systems Division and we moved to the San Fernando Valley. By then we had contracts to build MTDS (Marine Tactical Data Systems). That was a bunch of heli-huts that could be airlifted to wherever they were needed. Later we got another contract called ATDS that I think was for the Army.

DSD moved around a lot. We were at Van Nuys and then shifted to Eton Street in Canoga Park and finally to the old Bunker-Ramo facility at the top of Fallbrook Blvd. I ended up as a Group Leader of the printed circuit design group and left Litton in 1967. I still have my pin with two rubies signifying 10 years of service. If I had stayed until 1969 I would have been given another ruby.

That’s my story and if I have a few facts wrong, forgive me. It’s been a long time since then and I’ll gladly stand corrected if any of you wish to contact me. I can be reached at mallon80@gmail.com.  
Best regards,
Marvin Mallon
West Hills, CA

COMMENTS FROM REFLECTOR

In July 1962 I was hired into Pony Lee’s Communication Section as part of the staffing build up for the Marine Corps AOC program – the production version of the MTDS program. I remember Marv as the designer who  laid out the circuit board that packaged my first circuit design at DSD.  (Does anyone remember “stand up” components?) It was a pleasure reading Marv’s well crafted recollection of how Litton came into being and the subsequent birth  of DSD.  However, I’m disappointed that he neglected to share his secret to longevity 🙂
Dick [George]

Great story Marvin. You do have a few years on me but I am close enough. You left Litton in 1967, I started in 1967. Hired by Vic Walker. I got out of the Army in 1955 and went back to school. Finished in 1960 got a job with RCA. 
Fran Jansen

I love hearing DSD folks tell their Litton story!  I was hired by Litton Guidance & Control in 1962 by John Beakes-Director of Contracts.  After 5 years at G&C contracts, I had an opportunity to join Tom Doherty and Ed Peyronnin in the rapidly growing and exciting Contracts department at DSD. Luckily, I had completed my Masters Degree in International Economics, and as such I handled new business contracts and the growing and challenging International business, eventually becoming Contract Manager for Business Development and International Contracts.  For  25 years I worked with some great and savy folks inside and outside DSD, and was almost always excited about my career, finally retiring in July of 1993.  I just had my 85th birthday, yet still reminisce often about those wonderful Litton years.  I still keep busy, living in Palm Desert, CA.
Bob Parmett

I started in January 1961 at the Eton St. Facility. After two weeks to learn what flip-flop was, I was put in system test for serial #1 of ATDS(?). It bent on the Grumman E2 aircraft. I was assigned to the comm unit along with Jack Conway and Doug Sommerville. I think it was the “M” unit. Is that right Jack?
Ralph [Mauriello]

CB/ATDS was Carrier Based/Airborne Tactical Display System. The system flew in a Navy E2B aircraft. ATDS was the AF version and flew in Lockheed Constellations that had a large radome on top. The MTDS or Marine Tactical Display System consisted of the TAOC, Tactical Aircraft? (or Aiborne) Operations Center and the Tactical Aircraft Command Center. Taoc was transportable by helicopters or deuce and a half trucks and consisted of separate huts cabled together. I don’t know if a TACC was ever built, but was a large inflatable tent with a large projection screen that used glass slides to portray the area of interest. It was made by Fensky, Frederich and Miller. I worked at DSD (and GCS) from 1961 to 1965 and again from 1971 to 1976. I left to work for Tektronix in Oregon.
Dave Williams

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Tom Burt’s New Home

Life has been a blur and old memories of DSD days come back like yesterday.
The many faces and wonderful personalities of fellow “Littonites” still cross my mind. When I hear and see the names, I reflect on the fond memories and stories of the good old days.
My second family.
After many years of aerospace and defense in California, I decided to relocate to my homeland of Oxford Pennsylvania. I am closer now to my aging siblings and mother who is 96.
My last “E-ticket” before retirement is a aircraft core composite company in Edgewood Maryland just below Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Still in Quality!
My only son remained in Simi Valley and is currently attending medical school.
I enjoy the news and hope to hear from my DSD family members.

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Clyde Huffman Eulogy

Clyde Huffman
The following Eulogy was presented by Steve Speier at the Celebration of Life service for Clyde on April 27, 2016 at the Chapel of the Oaks in Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, CA.

EULOGY OF CLYDE STANLEY HUFFMAN
Clyde was born September 13, 1926 in Bingham, Utah to Clarence and Roberta Huffman. He had one sister, Alma and three brothers, Jerry, Dick and David. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Alma and brother David.

Clyde has three sons, Grover (whose wife is Sherie), Allan, and Jim – four grandchildren, Aaron, Eric, Julie (whose husband is Jordi), and Esmeralda – two great-grandchildren, Claudia and Gabrielle.

Clyde graduated from the University of Utah with a Master’s Degree in Geology. While attending the University, Clyde worked alongside his father (who was a locomotive engineer) and his brothers at the Kennecott Copper Mine at Bingham Canyon, Utah. One of his most memorable jobs was as a “Gandy Dancer” working on the tracks. He and his buddies formed a company to mine Uranium (however, the company went bust). He soon realized that following his chosen profession as a geologist kept him away from home for months at a time. He decided he would pursue a different path. He then obtained his Industrial Engineering License, and his career path subsequently took him to the aerospace industry in California. He spent 35 years in Information Systems technology.

Clyde served with the United States Army in World War 2. He then reenlisted with the United States Air Force during the Korean War. With his heavy equipment and geology background, they put him to work extending the runway at Gimpo in Seoul (now the Gimpo International Airport).

Clyde married Christina Colyer on October 14, 1967 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Northridge, California. They had no children, but did have custody of his three sons from a prior marriage.

Clyde’s religious upbringing began as a Jehovah’s Witness, and then in his early 20’s he joined the Mormon Church. Clyde’s conversion to Christianity came unexpectedly one day in the late 1960’s when he awoke to hear the radio playing the song by Simon and Garfunkel “Mrs. Robinson” –

    And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you will know. God bless you, please Mrs. Robinson. Heaven holds a place for those who pray…….

Clyde had a sense that this was a personal message to him from God. From that point on, he was on fire for the Lord. Clyde’s greatest passion was the study of the Scriptures. Clyde and Chris took classes at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles to study Biblical Hebrew. Clyde also spent many hours learning the Greek language. It was important to him to study the Scripture in the original language. During his 40 plus years of intensive study, he wrote many white papers compiling his views gleaned from the Scriptures.

Clyde taught numerous Bible studies and home fellowship groups. He spent several years working with a Korean youth group in Los Angeles. They would meet every Saturday evening to sing praises and study the Scriptures.

Clyde loved his horses and he and Chris enjoyed many hours riding in the Anza-Borrego Desert and Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite Park. He enjoyed camping and traveling. His hobbies also included oil painting, sculpting, and he had an extensive collection of Vinyl LP Records.

After Clyde’s retirement in 1991 at age 65, he stayed busy as a volunteer for the Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop in Northridge, California. In 2004, Clyde and Chris moved to Port Angeles, Washington with their two dogs and three horses.

He became a member of Gideon’s International in January 2007. His passion for the Lord extended to supporting this organization that is committed to distributing the Bible throughout the world.

Clyde enjoyed RVing with our Church friends. He was introduced to Bluegrass music and soon was attending Bluegrass Festivals throughout the West.

I’m sure Clyde’s trademark smile will be part of him forever now that he is with the Lord.

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Mauriello in Perfect Pitch

Ralph at Dodger Stadium

By Michele Willer-Allred, Special to The Ventura County Star

Standing behind home plate Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, Moorpark resident Ralph Mauriello did one last sound check ahead of singing the national anthem before the team took on the Colorado Rockies.

Moments before, the likes of Sandy Koufax, Ron Newcombe, Tommy Lasorda and other Dodgers old-timers completed an exhibition game in front of fans.

“They couldn’t find anyone older than me. At least who can sing,” quipped Mauriello, 81, who was once a Dodgers pitcher.

Mauriello, who often is hired to sing at weddings and parties, was invited to sing at Saturday’s game.

At the conclusion of the national anthem, the tenor received cheers and high-fives from the crowd.

“No one sings it better,” said one fan shaking Mauriello’s hand.

Mauriello’s wife, June, was at the game.

“He never gets nervous,” she said.

Also there were daughter Tami Stoffel, son-in-law Dan Stoffel and granddaughter Rachael Stoffel.

“I’m so proud of him. He just loves to come back and share his voice here,” Tami Stoffel said as she watched her father go through one last rehearsal with organist Dieter Ruehle.

Mauriello was 18 years old when he signed as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers in August 1952.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander was with the Dodgers organization for eight years, six of which were in Double A and Triple A minor league baseball. He pitched in three games after the team moved to Los Angeles.

Lasorda and Sparky Anderson were his teammates.

During the off season, Mauriello attended both USC and UCLA, receiving a master’s degree in electrical engineering.

“I love baseball, but I left to become an engineer,” he said.

After that, he didn’t have much to do with the Dodgers until Lasorda became manager of the team in the mid-’70s.

Mauriello called Lasorda to congratulate him, and Lasorda regularly sent him tickets to the games.

Baseball may have taken a back seat in Mauriello’s life, but singing never did. Mauriello has been a member of the San Fernando Valley Male Chorus since 1964, and he still performs with the group.

He was with his daughter at a Lakers game when she told her dad he could sing the national anthem better than the singer at the game. He auditioned, and not only was he asked to sing at Lakers games, but also was asked to sing national anthem during the Los Angeles Kings’ first Stanley Cup playoff game in 1973.

He also sang the anthem during Lasorda’s 2014 visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley.

In 2008, the Dodgers decided to have a celebration and a reunion with the 1958 team. At that game, former Dodgers teammate Carl Erskine gave him the idea of singing at Dodger Stadium, and the rest is history.

Mauriello has sung the national anthem at least 12 times at Dodger Stadium. He also regularly sang “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch, but the song was cut out to shorten the game.

He said he never gets nervous before he sings, crediting his pitching experience on a major team with getting him prepared to be in front of a lot of people.

“It’s kind of fun singing at Dodger Stadium if you like an audience,” Mauriello said with a laugh.

He said he often receives compliments after his performance.

“The comments I get from the people after I’m finished singing and walking back to my seat makes me believe that people are really happy that I sang it the way it’s supposed to be sung,” he said.

Mauriello said he’s honored to sing at Dodger Stadium and the Old-Timers Game, where he sees a lot of friends. He likes to see who remembers whom from back in the day.

His home office is filled with articles and memorabilia from former teammates and people related to the Dodgers, including Don Drysdale and sportscaster Vin Scully.

Mauriello, who is writing a book about his experiences with people in baseball, said he has always liked to visit Scully when he’s at Dodger Stadium.

“He’s the best,” Mauriello said. “Vinny interviewed me the day I won my only baseball game with the Dodgers, and I sure wish I had the sound check on that one. That’d be neat.”

Ralph and Tommy

I think he thinks he got it just right!

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Harold (Hal) Griffin

I learned today that Hal Griffin of Operations passed away on Friday, August 7th, after a short illness. His funeral was held Monday, Aug 11th, at Jones Funeral Chapel 902 Preskitt Rd. Decatur, TX. There was a graveside service at Cumby Cemetery, CR 1589, Chico, TX.

For a view of Hal retirement take a look at:

http://www.rockingglonghorns.com/

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Bernard Cooper Dies in Hit and Run Accident

Bernie Cooper was tragically killed while riding his recumbent bicycle in the Tierra Rejada Valley on February 21, 2013. The family gathered from all over the United States and promptly held a private memorial for him at home.

Below are links to reports of his accident and two pictures provided by his son. Bernie will be fondly remembered by many in the DSD Reunion community. Please feel free to add your comments to this post.

Moorpark Patch article.

BikingInLA Article

Bernie Cooper at Home

Bernie on Bike

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Thomas J Cox

Tom Cox worked as a field engineer for Litton in Data Systems Division Field Engineering. Tom performed all required maintenance on the AN/TYQ-2 Air Operations Central for the U.S. Marine Corps, at Marine Base at Camp Pendleton in California, and was also instrumental in the development of major improvements to that system at Litton’s plant in Colorado. Tom later managed the modification team installing those engineering changes to the AN/TYQ-2 equipment at various U.S Marine sites throughout the world.

I would be pleased if you would recognize Tom in your DSD releases.

Thank you,

Donald Brown
Retired Litton DSD employee

See Obit

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Tragic Accident Kills Sam Coates Former Employee of Guidance Division

Sam’s Memorial Service is at the Riverside VA Cemetery on 28 September.Sam and I were friends since 1957 and our paths followed similar directions. Rest In Peace.

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