During freshman orientation week, David Allais planned to study law until he and two friends happened to stroll by the UA law college. He found himself in a cavernous room lined with leather-bound books.
"I could not imagine four years of captivity in this dungeon," Allais recalled later. "Thus, I joined my friends Tom and Bill as we signed up for mechanical engineering."
On Friday — more than half a century after that chance influence — the University of Arizona College of Engineering handed its lifetime achievement award to Allais in a ceremony at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix.
The school recognized Allais' career as an engineer at IBM, followed by several executive jobs at Intermec Technologies Corp., including chairman and chief executive officer. The UA credits him with building Intermec from a small startup into the leading manufacturer of bar-code equipment.
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In 1989, Allais founded Applied Tactical Systems in Washington state to help clients use bar-code technology to increase productivity. He remains chairman of the company, now called PathGuide Technologies Inc., providing warehouse- management systems for wholesale and industrial distributors throughout North America.
By 1958, Allais had earned his bachelor and master of science degrees in mechanical engineering from the UA. Later at Stanford University, he picked up a master of science in electrical engineering and his doctorate.
Allais, who is named inventor on seven patents and credited with creating five bar-code symbologies or languages, answered a few questions shortly before the award ceremony:
Q: You patented several inventions. Which mattered most to you?
A: The invention of a bar-code reading wand, now superseded by laser scanners and imagers.
Q: What about your work or career is most interesting to lay persons?
A: For the past 40 years, my work has enabled American business to be more productive and efficient.
Q: What advice do you have for people starting out in engineering today?
A: Find a niche in which you have the greatest interest and pursue it with energy and enthusiasm.
Q: What else would you like people to know about your life or achievements?
A: At age 76, I have no plans to retire. I'm having a great time contributing to the success of my company and the broader bar-code industry.