George Bernard Dantzig (1914 - 2005) American mathematician and programmer, the ``father of linear programming.''

The son of Tobias Dantzig, George began his formal studies at the University of Maryland. As the United States became involved in World War II, Dantzig was drafted by the U. S. Air Force to help with supply logistics. After the war, he obtained master's degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkeley, where he famously solved two specially difficult problems believing them to be run-of-the-mill homework assignments.