Technology >> CEO Interviews >> February 15, 1999
JOHN MCBRIDE THORTON was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He
received a B.A. from Pomona College. He was commissioned in the U.S.
Navy Reserve and served two years aboard a destroyer picket ship with
duty assignments off the Korean Coast and the Formosa Patrol off the
China Coast. His final rank was Lieutenant. Later he received a M.B.A.
degree from Harvard Business School. In 1957, he joined Rohr Corporation
in San Diego serving eight years as Contracts Manager and Administrative
Services Manager. While at Rohr, Mr. Thorton also taught business
courses at the UC Extension and started a small manufacturing company
and real estate company. He left Rorh in 1965 to become President of
Wavetek, a small electronic instrument company with revenues of
$400,000. Over the next 20 years, while he served as President and
Chairman of the Board, revenues increased to $85,000,000. In 1976, Mr.
Thorton and his wife, Sally, became the largest stockholders of Micom
Systems. He was Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Micom Systems
for more than twelve years. During that time the company grew from
revenues of $400,000 to $240,000,000. Micom was sold in 1988 and since
that time, he has invested in and directed a variety of companies.
Currently he is involved with two different companies Mitek Systems and
THORTON WINERY. In addition to his business activities, John has served
as a trustee of the San Diego Zoological Society for more than 20 years
and is currently a director of BAYKEEPER. Profile
us into context, what you see as your business, what you see as your
company, and what you see as the challenges today?
