Sanders, Jerry

2001 Distinguished Alumni Award

In recognition of his leadership at AMD and contributions to the semiconductor industry, which have advanced the field of integrated circuit technology

W. J. "Jerry" Sanders III co-founded Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in 1969. Under his leadership, AMD grew from being a "second-sourcer" of other companies' products to its current position as the fourth largest semiconductor manufacturer in the United States.

Sanders also co-founded several prominent industry groups including the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Santa Clara Manufacturing Group, the Semiconductor Research Corporation and the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation.

The Wall Street Transcript named Sanders the Best Chief Executive Officer in the semiconductor industry for the years 1983, 1984, and 1985, and runner-up in 1991. Mr. Sanders received the Robert N. Noyce Award from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in 1998. In 2001 he received the Medal of Achievement from the AeA, the nation's largest high tech industry association.