Dixon spent the greatest part of his career - 19 plus years starting in 1963 - as a spacecraft system engineer at the TRW Space and Technology group in Redondo Beach. During this period, he was involved in many ‘cutting edge’ satellite programs, many times in the role of Chief Systems Engineer. All of his colleagues agreed that he was always brilliant in these assignments. He retired from TRW in 1982, but worked there as a consultant until 1986. He then commenced a new career as a teacher for the UCLA Extension School and at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. He taught courses in spacecraft system design, spacecraft control systems, and orbital mechanics. In addition, he was a visiting professor at the TECHNION (Israel Institute of Technology) in Haifa for the Fall semester of 1992.

Bill , born and raised in Chicago, attended Cal Tech as an undergraduate and graduate student. He obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from there in 1952. Before coming to TRW, he was a co-founder and Vice-President of CEA - Computer Engineering Associates - early pioneers in analog computer applications.

At the time of his death, Bill and Jean Dixon had been married for 39 years, and raised four children, Lance, Roy, Wendy, and Alan; three of whom have obtained Doctor’s degrees in the sciences. Bill traveled widely throughout the world. It would be difficult to find a country where he has not been. He was a licensed pilot and flew his plane extensively in the Southwest and Mexico. The Dixon’s took a trip around the world recently, and earlier he traveled on the trans-Siberian railroad.

Bill recovered from a severe heart attack in 1974, to continue his strenuous mountain climbing proclivities and less strenuous weekly sailing activities. He participated as Third Clarinet in the Palos Verdes Symphonic Band. He was a Boy Scout leader and hiked with Troop 849 for 25 years. He also played serious badminton at the club next to his house

In short, he was a multi-faceted, multi-talented man, and an inspirational father and family man, and a hardworking foredeck sailor. He will be sorely missed by his wife, family, hundreds of friends at work, and his crewmates.

The Dixon family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers, any donations in the memory of Bill Dixon be made to the memorial fund being established at Bill’s alma mater, California Institute of Technology. Checks should be made payable to: "William J. Dixon Memorial Fund-Cal Tech"

Mail to: Cal Tech Associates

Cal Tech Mail Code 105-40

Pasadena, CA 91125