CA Update - Bob Kuhn

Bob Kuhn retired from the hi tech Industry after having started in the power grid tube industry moving to the new semiconductor industry before the name Silicon Valley first evolved. He is now retired with his wife Sue in Calistoga Ca.

Early Years in Silicon Valley

I have many pleasant memories from my 40-year career, but some of the best come from my early days at a little startup semiconductor company in Sunnyvale: Signetics Corporation.

At the time, the company was just beginning its climb toward becoming a major producer of semiconductors. We were fortunate to have a strong president and a group of production leaders, many from Texas, who brought intelligence, honesty, and a sharp sense of humor. They quickly earned the respect of everyone in the company.

The heart of our production team consisted of the Production Control Manager along with managers of Fabrication, Assembly, and Testing. Together, they drove us through long hours, tough production challenges, and a steady stream of new products that had to reach the market quickly. It often felt like climbing one hill after another—but this team made the climb easier.

To lighten the grind of what could stretch into 80-hour weeks, the managers found small but memorable ways to keep us going. One manager, Carlos, would announce a “staff meeting” at 6 a.m.—on the first tee of a local golf course. Supervisors and department managers played a round while production leads kept the lines running. By lunchtime we were back at the plant.

On another occasion, Carlos called the team together and said, “Let’s all go to lunch.” Off we went in a six-car caravan, eventually arriving at a tiny grocery near San Jose’s Reed–Hillview Airport. From there he led us to a hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint run by an older couple who had come from Georgia after years of working the cotton fields.

The place was barebones—no chairs or tables, just brick ovens and a small counter decorated with cotton branches. The menu was simple: ribs, brisket, hot links, and nothing else but a cooler of soda. Carlos bought a couple of buckets of barbecue, we grabbed our sodas, and we all drove to the side of the airport road to watch planes take off and land while we ate.

It wasn’t a neat affair. Sauce dripped down our arms, bread soaked up every last drop, and newcomers quickly learned to bring bath towels instead of relying on paper towels. But it was unforgettable—a team bonding over barbecue in the California sun before heading back to work, sometimes late into the night.

These outings, along with backyard barbecues, “tacky parties,” and family gatherings, became the glue that held us together. Wives were included in the social events so they knew they were part of the team too. At one party, a newcomer’s wife remarked on how nice everyone seemed. A more seasoned wife quickly advised her to buy a toolbox—because while her husband was working endless hours at the plant, she’d be the one handling repairs at home. The room erupted in laughter, and the bond between families deepened.

Looking back, those years at Signetics were among the most rewarding of my career. They gave me lifelong friends, skills I carried to other companies, and memories I wouldn’t trade for anything. The company even held reunions for early employees, the last one at a Sunnyvale park, where we laughed, reconnected, and relived the stories of those early days.

It was, without question, a very special time.

~ Bob Kuhn