If you had to name one single person who is the most responsible for Austin becoming the #2 tech capital of the World (behind only Silicon Valley--and catching up), it's this guy:
(if you don't know who he is, read some UT history. IC2. We're basically another Stanford when it comes to high tech and high tech entrepreneurship.)
Now, his vision, as I understand it, was to create a technology corridor up and down I-35, first through Texas from Laredo to the Red River, then North along I-35's cut through the Plains--all the way to Minnesota. With it's "capitol" in Austin, Texas. IMHO, this would be a good thing from a national perspective. Too much industry and growth is concentrated on the East Coast and the West Coast. His vision would concentrate (or actually disperse) hi-tech along a North-South corridor right through the heart of the country.
Also, it's too blasted expensive for young technology-field graduates to live in Silicon Valley. As a nation, we need to spread it out a bit. If would probably require places like KU, KSU, U of Missou, Iowa, and Minnesota (and yes OU and OSU) to beef up their science and engineering programs. But this could be done.
While not a person, I credit IBM for making Austin a tech town.
50 years in, IBM still helping shape Austin’s tech sector (statesman.com)
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