Byron T. Gorres *64

Byron died Feb. 21, 2026, in Stillwater, Minn. 

He was born Nov. 15, 1936, in Amery, Wis. Raised on a dairy farm, Byron sold his prize bull to help pay for his education. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1958 and began his career at 3M as a technician. After earning his Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton in 1964, Byron returned to 3M, where he built a 34-year career as a scientist and manager.  

At 3M, Byron led the development of new computer techniques from 1964 to 1981; managed worldwide diskette research and development from 1983 to 1985; and met with Steve Jobs to discuss storage media for the original Macintosh. 

While Byron’s early career focused on computer techniques and magnetic storage for devices like the original Macintosh, his later shift into polymers applied his expertise in molecular structures to industrial material science building on his foundation in physical chemistry. His research in polymer advances resulted in at least one registered patent. 

Byron is survived by his wife, Georgene, whom he married in 1958; children: Sheryl Zaworski, Geoff, Gwen Gierke, and Brett Gorres; nine grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. 

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.