George E. P. Box — Statistician — The Early Years

Abstract

The paper is an overview of how George Box profoundly influenced the world of statistics since the early years. It covers his pre-Wisconsin career beginning with early WWII army work in England and later at Imperial Chemical Industries, including prewar statistics paper at age 19 and British Empire Medal in 1946. It recalls and discusses the relevance to the Statistics community of George Box one year visit, in 1953, to the USA and later return to Princeton University (1956–59) where he headed the Statistical Techniques Research Group (STRG) as well as his move, in 1960, to establish the Statistics Department at the University of Wisconsin where remained until his death in 2013

Key Words:

• George Box influential researcher
• George Box generous professor
• Princeton University Statistics Techniques Research Group
• Technometrics foundation and support.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stuart Hunter

J. Stuart Hunter is Professor of Engineering Emeritus, Princeton University. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a past President of the American Statistical Association, the founding editor of Technometrics, and an Honorary Member of the American Society for Quality.