William L. Root
American information theorist
About William L. Root
Lived 1919 – 2007 (aged 87–88). William L. Root was an American military officer, mathematician, computer scientist, engineer and university teacher.
William Lucas Root (1919 – April 22, 2007) was a noted American information theorist. As an early pioneer in the field, Root was instrumental in providing a mathematical basis for statistical communication theory.
Root was born in Iowa, receiving his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1940 and master's degree from MIT in 1943, both in electrical engineering. He served as a Marine officer in World War II, in 1952 received his doctorate in mathematics from MIT, and subsequently joined Lincoln Laboratory, serving as head of its analysis group 1959–1961. From 1962 to 1987 he was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Root was an IEEE Fellow and received the 1986 Claude E. Shannon Award.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was William L. Root?
American information theorist (1919–2007)
When was William L. Root born?
William L. Root was born in 1919 in Des Moines.
When did William L. Root die?
William L. Root died on 22 April 2007.
What was William L. Root's occupation?
William L. Root was a military officer, mathematician, computer scientist, engineer and university teacher.
What nationality was William L. Root?
William L. Root was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William L. Root. https://biography.guide/william-l-root/
MLA: "William L. Root." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-l-root/.
Chicago: "William L. Root." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-l-root/.
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