Indeed, it's a common assumption that the first employee of Microsoft was either of its renowned co-founders, Bill Gates or Paul Allen. In actuality, the first person to be officially hired by the company is a man named Bob O'Rear.
O'Rear, a mathematician from Texas, joined Microsoft in 1977 when it was still an obscure startup with only about half a dozen employees. It was located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, far from where its global headquarters in Redmond, Washington stands today.
Before joining Microsoft, O'Rear was tasked with a significant responsibility that few could imagine. He was a part of the team that worked on NASA's mission to the moon.
"I was in charge of the mathematical modeling to determine how much of the heat shield had ablated away during the re-entry process", O'Rear said in an interview.
However, his career trajectory changed direction when he encountered the revolutionary world of software.
In the beginning, his primary role was to take Microsoft's software to different manufacturers and convince them to install it in their hardware. O'Rear was chiefly responsible for the marketing of Microsoft's MS-DOS, the software that powered IBM's first personal computer. He ended up working with the company for a decade, witnessing its evolution from a fledgling startup to a tech powerhouse.
Even though O'Rear retired in 1983, his contribution to Microsoft's early journey remains remarkable. He was not only the first employee but also one of the key people who laid the groundwork for Microsoft's dominant position in the tech industry.
O'Rear's story is a testament to how the right talent, even if not in the limelight, can steer a company towards its incredible journey of success.
So, the next time someone mentions Microsoft's first employee, remember it's not Bill Gates or Paul Allen. It's the unsung hero, Bob O'Rear.
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