born June 26, 1902, Hannibal, Mo., U.S.
died May 14, 1978, Reno, Nev.
U.S. electrical engineer and industrialist.
Following military service during World War I, he designed a practicable car radio and sold it to the future Motorola, Inc. During and after World War II, his companies Lear Avia and Lear, Inc., built radio navigators, autopilots, and other precision devices for Allied aircraft. In 1963 Lear formed Lear Jet, Inc., which produced small private and corporate jet aircraft. In 1964 he developed the stereo eight-track player for automobiles.