Overcoming Barriers in a Political Environment:
Mayor Joe’s experience in Madison, Wisconsin, exemplifies overcoming challenges in a political setting. Civil service protection and a non-partisan city council posed obstacles. Overcoming these barriers required finding individuals who could envision and drive change.

Starting with Projects:
The city began with manageable projects, selecting individuals with leadership qualities. A team leader and facilitator training program was implemented to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.

Citywide Training and Integrated Leadership:
The city progressed to citywide training and integrated labor union leadership into the steering committee. The steering committee comprised council members, union representatives, managers, and frontline workers.

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things:
The city’s success stemmed from ordinary individuals’ efforts empowered by powerful ideas and techniques. Bill Hunter’s steadfast determination and focus were instrumental in driving the city’s transformation.

Encouraging Government Adoption of Quality Improvement:
Mayor Joe urged government officials to consider quality improvement techniques. He highlighted the positive impact these techniques had on productivity, pride, and success. He emphasized the need to increase understanding and support for these techniques at all levels of government.

Tribute to Dr. William G. Hunter:
Dr. George Box, a close friend and colleague of Dr. Hunter, spoke about his life and contributions. Dr. Hunter’s pioneering work in quality improvement and his dedication to the field were remembered.

Thesis:
George Box presents a captivating tribute to William Gordon Hunter, an exceptional statistician and educator who left an indelible mark on the field and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Hunter’s Academic Journey:
Hunter’s impressive academic achievements included a master’s degree in 1962 and a PhD in 1963, leading to his appointment as faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Box recounts an intriguing incident from his time at Princeton, where he was asked to teach a statistics course to graduate students in chemical engineering.

Hunter’s Undergraduate Experience:
As an undergraduate at Princeton, Hunter faced unique challenges to enroll in Box’s course, requiring special permission and a scavenger hunt to collect signatures from designated deans. Despite these obstacles, Hunter demonstrated exceptional dedication and enthusiasm for statistics, attending lectures and absorbing the geometric explanations presented.

Hunter’s Oral Exam and Graduation:
Box conducted an oral exam for Hunter, covering both easy and challenging questions, which Hunter answered flawlessly. Upon informing the dean’s office of Hunter’s exceptional performance, Box was informed that Hunter had graduated magna cum laude, despite initially being classified as a priority graduate.

Hunter’s Arrival at the University of Wisconsin-Madison:
Hunter arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1960, eager to join the newly established statistics department. Box recalls meeting Hunter at the airport and hosting him for dinner at his house, where they celebrated with champagne. Hunter’s passion for Madison led him to stay for the next 27 years, contributing significantly to the university’s quality efforts.

Hunter’s Teaching Legacy:
Hunter’s teaching methods were innovative and engaging, capturing students’ attention and making complex ideas understandable. His approach of letting students perform experiments to learn design principles gained worldwide recognition and is still widely used today.

Hunter’s Experimental Projects:
Hunter’s article in The American Statistician showcased 32 simple factorial experiments conducted by individual students. These experiments covered diverse topics, including beer making, piloting an airplane, riding a bike, making popcorn, hitchhiking, and using a tape deck. One memorable experiment examined the factors affecting hitchhiking success, including location, time, and the use of crutches, with crutches proving to be a disadvantage.

Hunter’s Dedication to Science:
Hunter’s devotion to science extended beyond traditional experiments, as he also explored more unconventional topics, some of which were deemed less suitable for publication. Hunter encouraged students to work in pairs, leading to amusing anecdotes like the fascinating experiment on factors affecting enjoyment during copulation, completed within a short timeframe.

Bill’s Contributions:
Bill’s research initially focused on chemical kinetics, experimental design, data analysis, model building, and Bayesian methodology. His work expanded to include statistics in law, statistical consulting, environmental protection, and manufacturing quality. Bill published over 90 articles and received numerous honors and awards.

Recognition and Honors:
Bill was a fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Statistical Association. He received awards such as the Frank Wilcoxon Prize and the Shuler Award. Bill held various leadership positions in professional societies and served on editorial boards.

Teaching and Outreach:
Bill was a dedicated teacher and lecturer, known for his enthusiastic and memorable teaching style. He traveled extensively to teach and consult in different countries, including Nigeria and Yugoslavia. Bill made significant efforts to improve statistical programs in developing countries.

Anecdotes and Stories:
Bill’s philosophy and wisdom are reflected in his co-authored book, Statistics for Experimenters. He had a knack for solving problems and uncovering mysteries, such as the story of finding the lyrics to a song for the book’s foreword. Bill enjoyed sharing his love of music and knowledge with his students and colleagues.

Conclusion:
Bill’s life and work exemplified his dedication to improving the quality of life through teaching, research, and public service. His contributions to statistics and his ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds left a lasting impact on the field and beyond.

Bill Hunter’s Book Writing and Watergate Hearings:
While writing a book, Bill Hunter and George Box became engrossed in the Watergate hearings, often watching them during lunch and beyond, leading to concerns about their writing progress.

Bill Hunter’s Fascination with Senator Sam Irving’s Eyebrows:
Bill Hunter was fascinated by Senator Sam Irving’s eyebrows, considering their level a reliable indicator of the credibility of testimony.

Bill Hunter’s Involvement in Quality and Productivity:
Throughout his career, Bill Hunter was deeply involved in issues related to quality and productivity. He wrote articles encouraging developing countries to utilize simple statistical techniques for improvement.

Bill Hunter’s Contributions to Statistical Quality Improvement:
When American industry revived its interest in statistics in the early 1980s, Bill Hunter dedicated a significant portion of his work to research and teaching on improving quality and productivity through statistical methods.

Bill Hunter’s Collaboration with Dr. Edward Deming:
Bill Hunter’s friendship with Dr. Edward Deming led to successful seminars and conferences on quality improvement, inspiring initiatives in Madison and the Wisconsin state government.

Course Overview:
Bill taught a university course on quality and productivity in 1985. The course was open to university students, faculty, and members of the community. Attendees included executives from local businesses, city officials, healthcare professionals, and mechanics from the city’s vehicle maintenance garage.

Project Selection:
During the first week of the course, participants were asked to choose a project on which they would work. The projects were intended to improve quality and productivity in their respective organizations.

Bank Account Accuracy Project:
The bank decided to focus on improving the accuracy of their customer accounts. Data collection and analysis revealed that a significant number of accounts had errors, such as incorrect names, addresses, and amounts. The bank implemented changes to reduce the error rate substantially.

Hospital Emergency Contact List Project:
The nurse administrator of the hospital discovered that the list of emergency contact numbers for nurses, doctors, and administrators was inaccurate. She studied the issue and developed a system to maintain an accurate and up-to-date contact list.

Vehicle Maintenance Garage Project:
Two mechanics from the city’s vehicle maintenance garage shared their experiences using the Deming approach to improve the effectiveness of the garage. They highlighted specific improvements in productivity and efficiency.

Guest Lecturers:
Guest lecturers, including mechanics from the maintenance garage, shared their experiences with implementing quality improvement methods. These lectures were highly successful and provided valuable insights into the practical application of quality improvement principles.

Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement:
Bill Newell founded the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement in 1985, aiming to make it the world’s best research institution in the field. The center now regularly publishes research reports, offers special courses for industry, and receives significant support from major U.S. industries.

Weekly Quality Meetings:
The center holds weekly Tuesday morning meetings where everyone, including faculty, visitors, students, and staff, has an equal say. Meetings start precisely on time, and lateness results in a fine of $1 for faculty and 10 cents for students.

Bill Newell’s Research and Collaboration:
Newell’s research contributions extended beyond published works, with many projects enriched by his expert advice. He was enthusiastic about helping people with real problems, even if the statistics involved were simple.

Bill Newell’s Courage and Legacy:
Despite knowing he was terminally ill, Newell remained courageous and determined to enjoy life and share it with loved ones. He received immense love and support from his wife, Judy, and sons, Jack and Justin. Newell left a rich legacy through organizations like the Madison Area Quality Improvement Network and the UW Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement.

Remembrance and Gratitude:
George Box concludes the tribute by asking the audience to stand in silence to remember Bill Newell with love and gratitude.