W. Lincoln Hawkins

By inventing a way to stabilize the polymers used to coat communications cable, Walter Lincoln Hawkins and his Bell Labs colleagues Vincent Lanza and Field Winslow helped make universal telephone service possible. In addition, their work enriched scientists' understanding of the polyolefin stabilization process.

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1911, Hawkins was orphaned at a young age and raised by his sister. While in high school, he discovered his passion for math and science, and he began exploring the world of engineering.

Hawkins graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1932 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Unable to find work during the Great Depression, he enrolled at Howard University, where he earned his master’s degree in chemistry. He later earned his doctorate at McGill University in Montreal, specializing in cellulose chemistry, and then took on a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University.

In 1942, Hawkins accepted a position at Bell Labs, becoming the company’s first Black employee. Devoting more than 34 years there, he developed a reputation for increasing the lifespan of plastic, making possible more economical and universal telecommunication systems.

Polymers or “plastics” were a central subject of research in the field of chemistry at the time Hawkins began conducting research on thermal and oxidative stabilization of polymers for telecommunications. Until the 1940s, a lead-based coating had been used to insulate telephone cables. The lead coating was expensive, and it was also too heavy to use in the multicable conduits needed to serve millions of people. Plastic coatings were tried as an alternative, but they quickly became brittle and would disintegrate when exposed to the elements.

In 1956, Hawkins, Lanza and Winslow discovered a way to stabilize polyethylene and create a plastic cable insulation that could withstand changes in temperature and other environmental factors. This newly developed coating, known as the “polymer cable sheath,” went into production in the 1960s. It quickly began to reduce the costs of building and maintaining modern telephone systems, and the use of lead, an environmental toxin, was eliminated. This coating, which continues to be used today, enabled the expansion of telephone service around the world.

In addition to co-inventing the polymer-based cable sheath, Hawkins worked to develop appropriate testing methods to determine the lifetimes of plastics and to reduce plastic waste. These tests also would communicate the underlying chemistry to audiences outside of the field who were interested in building upon telecommunications technology.

At the same time Hawkins began shifting his studies toward the reduction of plastic waste, he was named assistant director of the Chemical Research Laboratory, and he would remain in this position until his retirement from Bell Labs in 1976. Until 1983, he served as research director of the Plastics Institute of America, and he also was active as an independent materials consultant and an expert witness.

Over the course of his career, Hawkins received 18 U.S. patents and 129 foreign patents, published three books and authored more than 50 scientific papers. He received many awards and honors, including the International Award from the Society of Plastics Engineers, the Percy L. Julian Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Howard University and at least five honorary degrees. He was also inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1975, becoming the first Black engineer to receive this honor.

Dedicated to improving education and employment opportunities for people interested in pursuing careers in engineering and science, Hawkins helped to establish the Bell Labs Summer Research Program for Minorities and Women, founded in 1974. Hawkins also participated in founding and operating the Bell Labs Cooperative Research Fellowship Program, aiding minority doctoral students in technical areas.

Inspiring generations with his advocacy for equal opportunities in technical fields, Hawkins said, “If you fight hard, know who you are, and are proud of who you are, you’ve got a good chance at winning.”