William Hunter (statistician)
Encyclopedia
William Gordon Hunter, or Bill Hunter as he was usually called, was a statistician at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He was co-author of the classic book Statistics for Experimenters, and founder of the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement.
Hunter was born March 27, 1937 in Buffalo, New York
. He received a bachelor's degree
from Princeton
in 1959 and in 1960 a master's
from the University of Illinois. He then became the first doctoral student at the new department of statistics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
with George Box.
He contributed to the book Statistics for Experimenters by Box, William Hunter, and Stuart Hunter (no relation to William Hunter). He founded the Statistics Division of the American Society for Quality
and the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement in Madison, Wisconsin
. The American Statistical Association
gives an annual award called the William G. Hunter Award.
According to Box, "He wanted to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people, and he and his family spent extended periods of time helping third world
countries."
Hunter was a leader in the effort to adopt the Deming
system of Profound Knowledge and related ideas in the Public Sector. He contributed to Deming's Out of the Crisis, relating how the city of Madison applied Deming's ideas to a public sector organization.
Hunter died of cancer on December 29, 1986 at the age of 49.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He was co-author of the classic book Statistics for Experimenters, and founder of the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement.
Hunter was born March 27, 1937 in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1959 and in 1960 a master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Illinois. He then became the first doctoral student at the new department of statistics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
with George Box.
He contributed to the book Statistics for Experimenters by Box, William Hunter, and Stuart Hunter (no relation to William Hunter). He founded the Statistics Division of the American Society for Quality
American Society for Quality
American Society for Quality , formerly known as American Society for Quality Control , is a knowledge-based global community of quality control experts, with nearly 85,000 members dedicated to the promotion and advancement of quality tools, principles, and practices in their workplaces and in...
and the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. The American Statistical Association
American Statistical Association
The American Statistical Association , is the main professional US organization for statisticians and related professions. It was founded in Boston, Massachusetts on November 27, 1839, and is the second oldest, continuously operating professional society in the United States...
gives an annual award called the William G. Hunter Award.
According to Box, "He wanted to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people, and he and his family spent extended periods of time helping third world
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
countries."
Hunter was a leader in the effort to adopt the Deming
W. Edwards Deming
William Edwards Deming was an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer and consultant. He is perhaps best known for his work in Japan...
system of Profound Knowledge and related ideas in the Public Sector. He contributed to Deming's Out of the Crisis, relating how the city of Madison applied Deming's ideas to a public sector organization.
Hunter died of cancer on December 29, 1986 at the age of 49.