Mimms Museum of Technology and Art
Hall of Fame

In 2024, Mimms Museum of Technology and Art launched its Hall of Fame to recognize individuals whose work has profoundly shaped the field of technology.

Each year, a small number of honorees are selected in recognition of their exceptional impact on the technology industry. Inductees represent the highest standard of achievement—individuals whose vision, creativity, and leadership have driven meaningful progress, influenced the direction of the field, and inspired generations of others. Their contributions extend beyond technical accomplishment, reflecting enduring significance and lasting influence.

Hall of Fame honorees are celebrated each spring during BYTE, the annual fundraising event held at the Mimms Museum.

David A. Bader, PhD

Dr. David A. Bader was born in 1969 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the son of chemistry professor Morris Bader and his wife Karen. A graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, he is also an Eagle Scout. Awarded both his BS in computer engineering and MS in electrical engineering from Lehigh University and his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland. He has served on the faculty at the University of New Mexico, Georgia Institute of Technology (where he established the School of Computational Science and Engineering), and New Jersey Institute of Technology.

He has served on the Computing Research Association’s board of directors, the National Science Foundation’s advisory committee on cyberinfrastructure, and on IEEE Computer Society’s board of governors. Known as an expert in the design and analysis of parallel and multicore algorithms for real-world applications such as those in cybersecurity and computational biology. His main areas of research are at the intersection of high-performance computing and real-world applications, including cybersecurity, massive-scale analytics, and computational genomics.

Bader built the first Linux supercomputer using commodity processors and a high-speed interconnection network. Bader is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, AAAS, and SIAM; a recipient of the IEEE Sidney Fernbach Award; the 2022 Innovation Hall of Fame inductee of the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering; and now a 2025 inductee of the Mimms Museum’s Hall of Fame.

Daniel S. Bricklin

Daniel S. Bricklin was born in 1951 in Philadelphia, where he attended Akiba Hebrew Academy. Starting college as a mathematics major, he switched to computer science, earning his BS in electrical engineering and computer science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After working for Digital Equipment Corporation and FasFax, he returned to education and received an MBA from Harvard University. While there, he co-developed VisiCalc, making it the first electronic spreadsheet available for home and office use.

He co-founded Software Arts, Inc. and sold VisiCalc through VisiCorp. Using the original Apple version, VisiCalc was rewritten to run on the Tandy TRS-80, Commodore PET, and Atari 800. Bricklin went on to found Software Garden, a consulting firm and developer of software applications, where he continues to serve as president.

Bricklin was inducted as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, is a founding trustee of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, and has served on the boards of the Software Publishers Association and the Boston Computer Society.

Elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering and given a Grace Murray Hopper Award for VisiCalc. The IEEE Computer Society awarded Bricklin with the Computer Entrepreneur Award for pioneering the development and commercialization of the spreadsheet. Bricklin was given the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for being a technology change leader. He has received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Newbury College. A member of the National Academy of Engineering, he was made a Fellow of the Computer History Museum “for advancing the utility of personal computers by developing the VisiCalc electronic spreadsheet” and a recipient of the Hall of Fame honor in 2025 at Mimms Museum.

John Yates

With a legal career spanning over four decades, John Yates is nothing short of atitan in technology and venture capital law. His journey, marked by foresight andinnovation, has seen him at the forefront of legal developments in the tech sector – since the beginning of “computer law.”

John’s journey began in 1981 after Duke Law, inspired by his sister Jean’s Palo Alto tech startup. While building key Silicon Valley connections, he saw Atlanta’s untapped potential. He developed a robust client base of West Coast tech companies and co-founded the Southeastern Software Association (SSA), which later merged with the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), another group he
helped establish, cementing Atlanta’s status as a tech hub.

Joining Morris Manning & Martin in 1987, John became a pioneer with his knack for understanding the intricacies of technology law and is a frequent speaker at national tech law events —his work was even cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, as a co-founding partner of Gunderson Dettmer’s Atlanta/Southeast office, he continues to guide the next generation of tech innovators.

At the heart of John’s career is his passion for technology. He’s not just a lawyer; he’s an advocate for tech innovators across the Atlanta region and beyond. His work has empowered countless startups and established tech giants, guiding them through legal challenges and towards groundbreaking success.

Being honored by the Mimms Museum is a fitting tribute to his instrumental role in shaping the future of innovation.

Dale Alan Heatherington
1948-2021

Dale Heatherington was born in Orlando, Florida. He received an Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Southern Technical Institute (STI) in Marietta, GA in 1969. His first full-time job was with Norman’s Electronics in Brookhaven, GA. While working at National Data Corporation, he started building computer modems and became a co-partner and co-owner of DC Hayes Associates in 1978. In 1980, his company became Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. in Norcross, GA. Dale was the inventor of the personal computer modem. The Hayes Smartmodem became the standard of the industry. Dale also defined the AT command set which is still in use today not only in modems but also in Bluetooth devices. After seeing his company take over much of the market (selling 140,000 modems in 1982), he retired in 1984 at the age of 36. Dale holds 5 modem technology patents (one for the AT command set) and one joint patent for a remote data line monitor.

During his retirement, he continued to tinker with technology in his personal lab and small machine shop. In recent years, he enjoyed building robots and entering them in competitions sponsored by Atlanta Hobby Robot Club, DragonCon, and other organizations throughout the south. His philanthropic efforts included donating a Mechatronics Lab to STI.

More information is available at:
https://www.wa4dsy.com/heatherington/hayes/index.html
(includes schematics and source code for modems)

https://robots.wa4dsy.net/home/about

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_Microcomputer_Products

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Heatherington

https://engineering.kennesaw.edu/robotics-mechatronics/students/mechatronics-lab.php

https://www.dropbox.com/s/awapjf4pvphqbnp/DALE%20short%20version%20finalPPrevusuib%20215%20pmaug%201.mp4?dl=0