# Robert Maxfield

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_Maxfield
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_Maxfield.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maxfield
> Source revision: 1302508916
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|American entrepreneur}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Robert Maxfield
| image             = 
| image_size        = 
| alt               = 
| caption           = 
| birth_name        = Robert Roy Maxfield
| birth_date        = {{birth date |1941|09|30}}
| birth_place       = [Detroit, Michigan](/source/Detroit%2C_Michigan), U.S.
| death_date        = {{death date and age |2024|08|13|1941|09|30}}
| death_place       = [Marble Falls, Texas](/source/Marble_Falls%2C_Texas), U.S.
| fields            = Electrical engineering
| workplaces        = 
| patrons           = 
| education         = [Rice](/source/Rice_University), BA 1963 <br> Rice, BS 1964 <br> 
[Stanford](/source/Stanford_University), MSEE (1965)<br> Stanford, PhD EE (1969)
| alma_mater        = 
| thesis_title      = Techniques for computing optimal controls for linear systems with inequality constraints (1969)<ref name=PhDthesis/>
| doctoral_advisor  = [David G. Luenberger](/source/David_G._Luenberger)
| academic_advisors = 
| known_for         = [ROLM](/source/ROLM), co-founder (1968)<br>[Echelon](/source/Echelon_Corporation), VP (2009-2010)
| awards            = Entrepreneur of the Year, [Harvard Business School](/source/Harvard_Business_School) (1980)<ref name=IThistory-Bio/> 
| spouse            = <!--{{marriage|Katherine Maxfield|yyyy}}--> Katherine Maxfield<ref name=MaxfieldHall/>
}}
'''Robert Maxfield''' (September 30, 1941 – August 13, 2024) was an American entrepreneur, electrical engineer, and philanthropist.<ref name=Rice-Obit/>  He is best known for being a co-founder of the pioneering [Silicon Valley](/source/Silicon_Valley) company, [ROLM](/source/ROLM).<ref name=Rice-Obit/> Maxfield and three former classmates from [Rice University](/source/Rice_University) founded ROLM, growing it into a ''[Fortune 500](/source/Fortune_500)'' company.<ref name=Fireside/>  After he retired from ROLM, he had a storied career in education, research, and philanthropy.<ref name=Rice-Obit/><ref name=SantaFe-Obit/><ref name=CHM-Interview/>

==Biography==
===Early life and education===
Robert Roy Maxfield was born on September 30, 1941, in [Detroit, Michigan](/source/Detroit%2C_Michigan).<ref name=IThistory-Bio/>  He was the oldest of Mary and Jack Maxfield's three children.  His father was surgeon, who joined the [Army Medical Corps](/source/Army_Medical_Corps) during World War II.{{sfn|Maxfield|2004|page=2}}<ref name=IThistory-Bio/> After the war, his family settled in [Wichita Falls, Texas](/source/Wichita_Falls%2C_Texas), where he spent the remainder of his childhood.{{sfn|Maxfield|2004|page=2}}<ref name=IThistory-Bio/>  

During high school, Maxfield developed an interest in computers.  In the late 1950s, there was limited access to computers, and in his small hometown, there were none. Despite this, he turned his interest into a science project in which he built a rudimentary computer, a two-bit [adder](/source/Adder_(electronics)), using aviation relays.<ref name=CHM-Interview/><ref name=LastingMemories/>  He excelled in math and science in high school, and decided to study engineering in college.  He graduated from [Wichita Falls High School](/source/Wichita_Falls_High_School) in 1959.<ref name=CHM-Interview/>

When selecting a university, Maxfield considered [MIT](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology), [CalTech](/source/California_Institute_of_Technology), and [Rice University](/source/Rice_University). He was attracted to Rice for its strong science and engineering programs, tuition-free policy, and location in [Houston](/source/Houston), which was a five- to six-hour drive from his home. He had also spent time in Houston during the summers, when he competed in [Junior Olympics](/source/AAU_Junior_Olympic_Games) swimming events. He was offered  a swimming scholarship by the [University of Texas](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Austin), but chose Rice, where he believed he would receive a better education.<ref name=CHM-Interview/>

Rice's engineering program required students to complete both engineering and liberal arts courses, which led to a five-year undergraduate course of study for Maxfield. He appreciated how this integration of liberal arts made him a more well-rounded person.<ref name=CHM-Interview/> He earned both a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) and a [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) in [Electrical Engineering](/source/Electrical_Engineering), completing his degrees in 1963 and 1964, respectively;<ref name=CHM-Interview/> graduating at the top of his class.<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable/> Of his undergraduate experience at Rice, Maxfield said, "It's an excellent school for an engineer. But one of the characteristics was you work your butt off. I mean it was really hard and ... you learned to focus, to work hard, to ...manage your time,"<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable/>{{efn-ua|Maxfield attributed the success of ROLM, in part, to all of its founders having been engineering undergraduates at Rice University. See the Roundtable with ROLM founders,<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable/> starting at 1:16:45. Maxfield's specific comments about Rice start at 1:19:01 ("And, doing a startup company, man that was just like being back at Rice.")}}

Maxfield knew he wanted to both go to graduate school and work with computers.  He considered MIT and [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University), which both had [co-op programs](/source/Cooperative_education) with [IBM](/source/IBM), providing an opportunity to work and go to graduate school.  He was offered a job with IBM in [San Jose, California](/source/San_Jose%2C_California). He moved to California, and continued his studies in electrical engineering, earning a [Master of Science](/source/Master_of_Science) in Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.E.) in 1966. He completed his Ph.D. in 1969.<ref name=CHM-Interview/> His doctoral dissertation, with Professor [David G. Luenberger](/source/David_G._Luenberger) as thesis advisor, was titled "Techniques for Computing Optimal Controls for Linear Systems with Inequality Constraints."<ref name=PhDthesis/><ref name=CHM-Interview/>  Nearing completion of his Ph.D., he realized he would rather work on practical applications instead of research. However, his job interviews and job offers for a new Ph.D. were for doing research.<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable/>  A conversation with Ken Oshman would set him on his career path for the next 15 years.<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable/>

===Marriage and family ===
Maxfield and Melinda Harrison were married in 1964, soon after his graduation from Rice.<ref name=CHM-Interview/>  The couple moved to California where he would be pursuing his graduate studies.  They had two daughters in 1968 and 1971. Robert and Melinda divorced. Their youngest daughter died from leukemia in 1986, at age 14.<ref name=CHM-Interview/>

Maxfield married Katherine "Kathie" Holman around 1980,<ref name=MaxfieldHall/><ref name=CHM-Interview/> who had been the Product Marketing Manager at ROLM.<ref name=CHM-Interview/> She would later write a book, ''From Prune Shed to Silicon Valley Success - The Story of ROLM'', documenting the history of ROLM.<ref name=ROLM-Katherine/><ref name=AmazonProfile-Katherine/>

=== Death and legacy ===
Maxfield died on August 13, 2024, near his home in [Marble Falls, Texas](/source/Marble_Falls%2C_Texas), at the age of 82.<ref name=Rice-Obit/><ref name=TimesRecordObit/><ref name=LastingMemories/> 

The Maxfield Foundation continues to grants funds to individuals and institutions doing cancer research.<ref name=FoundationCenter-Maxfield/>

Maxfield Hall at Rice University, the home of Department of Statistics, is named in honor of Robert and Katherine Maxfield, whose Maxfield Foundation donated funds for the renovation of the former "Mechanical Hall".<ref name=MaxfieldHall/>

==Career==
===ROLM===
In 1968, fellow Rice alumni Gene Richeson, [Ken Oshman](/source/Ken_Oshman), and Walter Loewenstern were discussing starting a new company that would focus on building computers.  None of them had computer experience, so they tapped Maxfield, who was about to complete his Ph.D. at Stanford.<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable/>  So, in 1969, Maxfield, with Richeson, Oshman, and Loewenstern, founded [ROLM](/source/ROLM) Corporation,.<ref name=Fireside/>{{efn-ua|The name ROLM is formed from the surnames of its founders - "R" - Gene '''R'''icheson , "O"- Ken '''O'''shman,  "L"- Walter '''L'''oewenstern, "M"- Robert '''M'''axfield.}} He served as a director and the executive vice-president.<ref name=CHM-shortbio/>  The company initially developed military computers, and later expanded into [telecommunications](/source/telecommunications) equipment.<ref name=Rice-Obit/>

In 1984, ROLM was acquired by [IBM](/source/IBM) in one of the largest acquisitions in the technology industry at the time.<ref name=Rice-Obit/><ref name=WaPo-ROLM/><ref name=LastingMemories/> Maxfield served as Vice President of ROLM, under IBM,  until he retired in 1988.<ref name=SEC/><ref name=Equilar-Bio/><ref name=CHM-Interview/>

===New professional and intellectual pursuits===
After leaving IBM, Maxfield set off on a new path for his professional and intellectual pursuits.<ref name=LastingMemories/>{{sfn|Maxfield|2004|p=113}}

Maxfield served the [board of directors](/source/board_of_directors) for several corporations in 1980s and 1990s, including the [Software Publishing Corporation](/source/Software_Publishing_Corporation) (1980–1994), Saratoga National Bank (1982–1986), Vadis Corporation (1989–1991), [Knowledge Revolution](/source/Knowledge_Revolution) (1992–1998), and Fogdog Sports (1996–2000).<ref name=IThistory-Bio/><ref name=RiceAlli-Bio/>

From 1988, Maxfield mentored Ph.D. students as a Consulting Professor for the Management Science and Engineering (MS&E) Department, which "focus[ed] on the interface of engineering, business, and [public policy](/source/public_policy).<ref name=Stanford-MSE/><ref name=Equilar-Bio/> He created and taught "Business Management for Engineers" from 1989 to 1991, recognizing that the traditional engineering course of study did not provide basics in business.<ref name=CHM-Interview/>

Maxfield joined [Kleiner Perkins](/source/Kleiner_Perkins) [venture capital](/source/venture_capital) firm as a venture partner from 1989 to 1992.<ref name=CHM-Interview/> Ironically, when Maxfield and his partners in ROLM were looking for venture capital for their start-up company ROLM, they approached [Gene Kleiner](/source/Eugene_Kleiner) and were turned down.<ref name=CHM-Interview/>{{efn-ua|From Maxfield's interview with the Computer History Museum: "...there were a few venture capitalists in the Bay Area that we talked to, and one of them, for example, was Gene Kleiner, at that time it was Kleiner and Sheldon Roberts I believe...he had a little venture capital thing that became Kleiner Perkins....they turned us down."<ref name=CHM-Interview/>}}

Since 1991, Maxfield had been involved with the [Santa Fe Institute](/source/Santa_Fe_Institute) (SFI), a multi-disciplinary science and technology [think tank](/source/Think_Tank), as both a researcher and a trustee.<ref name=LastingMemories/><ref name=Equilar-Bio/> With SFI, he collaborated with a number of scientist from differing disciplines, publishing their research in journals and in books.<ref name=SantaFe-Obit/>  His final paper was on the topic of evolutionary economics. (See "Selected publications")

From 2009 to 2010, he was Senior Vice President, Products for [Echelon Corporation](/source/Echelon_Corporation),  which designed control networks.<ref name=SEC/>{{efn-ua|When Maxfield joined Echelon as a senior VP in 2009, [Ken Oshman](/source/Ken_Oshman) was president of Echelon.<ref name=SEC/>}}  He then served as a Director at Echelon.<ref name=Equilar-Bio/>

==Service and philanthropy==
===Maxfield Foundation===
In 1985, Maxfield and his wife established the Maxfield Foundation to support scientific research and education.<ref name=CHM-shortbio/>  The Foundations donations are primarily to support cancer research, especially leukemia; with some grants given to other projects.<ref name=FoundationCenter-Maxfield/>

===Rice University===
From 1994 to 2012, Maxfield served on the Rice Board of Trustees, heading the finance committee for many years.<ref name=Rice-Obit/> He also served on the advisory board for the School of Engineering.<ref name=Rice-Obit/>

Maxfield was an early investor in [OpenStax](/source/OpenStax), a project that he invested much of his time supporting &mdash; "The OpenStax project is what I've spent the most time on, and feel the most satisfaction from."<ref name=OpenStax-2017/> OpenStax, a non-profit of Rice University, that provides low cost, peer-reviewed textbooks and a platform to enhance learning.<ref name=OpenStax-Home/>

===Santa Fe Institute===

Since 1991, Maxfield had been involved with the [Santa Fe Institute](/source/Santa_Fe_Institute) (SFI), a multi-disciplinary science and technology [think tank](/source/Think_Tank), as both a researcher and a trustee.<ref name=LastingMemories/><ref name=Equilar-Bio/> He served on their Board of Trustees, SFI's longest serving trustee, from 1992 until his death.<ref name=SantaFe-Obit/>

==Selected publications==
Maxwell has published a number of interdisciplinary papers,<ref name=ResearchGate-Bio/> including:

*1995:{{cite journal
|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5144784
|first1=David|last1=Luenberger|author-link1=David Luenberger |last2=Maxfield |first2=R. R. 
|title=Computing economic equilibria using benefit and surplus functions
|journal=[Computational Economics](/source/Computational_Economics)|volume=8 |pages=47–64|year=1995|doi=10.1007/BF01298497}} (proposes new algorithms for the computation of equilibria for private ownership competitive economies,based the zero-maximum principle and the zero-minimum principle)

*1995: {{cite journal
|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2499519
|last1=Lane|first1=D.|last2=Malerba|first2=Franco|author-link2=Franco Malerba|last3= Maxfield |first3=R. |year=1995
|title=Choice and action |journal=Journal of Evolutionary Economics |volume=6|pages=43–76|doi=10.1007/BF01202372}} (argues that rational choice provides an inadequate foundation for a theory of economic action)

*1996: {{cite journal
|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222372914
|last1=Lane |first1=David Avra|author-link1=David A. Lane|last2=Maxfield|first2=R.|year=1996
|title=Strategy under complexity: Fostering generative relationships
|journal=Long Range Planning |volume=29|number=2|pages=215–231|doi=10.1016/0024-6301(96)00011-8 }} ("illustrate[s] the ideas advanced in this article with a story about the entry of ROLM into the PBX market in 1975")

*2004: {{cite journal
|last1=Lane |first1=David |last2=Maxfield |first2=Robert |year=2004
|title=Ontological uncertainty and innovation
|journal=Journal of Evolutionary Economics |volume=15 |pages=3–50
|doi=10.1007/s00191-004-0227-7|hdl=11380/305253 |hdl-access=free }} (explores the relationship between ontological uncertainty and innovation)

*2008: {{cite book|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7756s3zw |accessdate=March 18, 2025
|last1=Lane|first1=David |last2=Maxfield|first2=Robert|last3=Read|first3=Dwight
|author-link4=Van der Leeuw|last4=Van der Leeuw|first4=Sander|year=2008
|chapter= Chapter 1: From Population to Organization Thinking
|title=Complexity Perspectives in Innovation and Social Change, Methodos Series 7
|doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-9663-1_2
|hdl=11380/711209
}}

*2009: {{cite book
|last1=Lane |first1=David |last2=Maxfield |first2=Robert |year=2009
|chapter=Building a New Market System: Effective Action, Redirection and Generative Relationships
|title=Complexity Perspectives in Innovation and Social Change |pages=263–288
|doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-9663-1_10|hdl=11380/711216 |isbn=978-1-4020-9662-4 }}

*2009: {{cite book|last1=Lane|first1=David |last2=Maxfield|first2=Robert|year=2009
|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226954660 |accessdate=March 18, 2025
|title=Complexity Perspectives in Innovation and Social Change|pages=263–288
|chapter=Building a New Market System: Effective Action, Redirection and Generative Relationships
|doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-9663-1_10|hdl=11380/711216 |isbn=978-1-4020-9662-4 }}

*2016: {{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294104454 |accessdate=March 18, 2025
|last1=Wagner|first1=Andreas|author-link1=Andreas Wagner
|last2=Ortman|first2=Scott |last3=Maxfield|first3=Robert|year=2016
|title= From the primordial soup to self-driving cars: Standards and their role in natural and technological innovation
|journal=Journal of the Royal Society Interface|volume=13|issue=115
|doi=10.1098/rsif.2015.1086|pmid=26864893
|pmc=4780566}} (applies the  notion of standards "to the biochemical 'technologies' of nature, where objects like DNA and proteins, as well as processes like the regulation of gene activity are highly standardized")

==Notes==
{{notelist-ua}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=CHM-Interview>{{cite interview|accessdate=March 14, 2025
|url=https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2012/07/102702237-05-01-acc.pdf |format=pdf
|title=Oral History of Robert (Bob) Maxfield |publisher=Computer History Museum |date=January 22, 2004
|interviewer=Hendrie, Gardner |location=Saratoga, California|ref ={{harvid|Maxfield|2004}}
}}</ref>

<ref name=CHM-shortbio>{{cite web|accessdate=March 15, 2025
|url=https://computerhistory.org/profile/robert-r-maxfield/
|title=Profile: Robert R. Maxwell|publisher=Computer History Museum}}
</ref>

<ref name=PhDthesis>{{cite thesis|accessdate=March 15, 2025
|url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/b716dfafa10af42f69c4ad70a298f187/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar
|first=Robert Roy |last=Maxfield 
|title=Techniques for computing optimal controls for linear systems with inequality constraints |year=1969
|degree=Ph.D.|department=Electrical Engineering|publisher=[Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University)}}
</ref>

<ref name=Rice-Obit>{{cite web|accessdate=March 13, 2025
|url=https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/remembering-robert-maxfield-rice-owl-and-silicon-valley-engineering-pioneer
|title=Remembering Robert Maxfield, Rice Owl and Silicon Valley engineering pioneer
|first=Amy |last=McCaig |date=September 9, 2024|work=Rice News|publisher=Rice University}}
</ref>

<ref name=TimesRecordObit>{{cite web|accessdate=March 14, 2025
|url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/obituaries/paco0941112
|title=Life Story: Robert Roy Maxfield|date=September 13, 2024|work=Times Record News}}
</ref>

<ref name=LastingMemories>{{cite web|accessdate=March 15, 2025
|url=https://obituaries.paloaltoonline.com/obituaries/memorials/robert-roy-maxfield?o=8689
|title=Lasting Memories: Robert Roy Maxfield (Sept. 30, 1941-Aug. 13, 2024), Buchanan Dam, Texas
|work=Palo Alto online}}
</ref>

<ref name=WaPo-ROLM>{{cite news|accessdate=March 15, 2025
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1984/09/27/ibm-rolm-set-deal-for-127-billion/c4f43990-6164-4d5f-b78c-5c3f9ca6b98a/
|date=September 26, 1984 |newspaper=[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)
|title=IBM,ROLM set deal for $1.27 billion |first=Michael|last=Schrage}} {{subscription required}}
</ref>

<ref name=Stanford-MSE>{{cite web|accessdate=March 15, 2025|url=https://msande.stanford.edu/
|title=Department of Management Science and Engineering|publisher=Stanford University}}
</ref>

<ref name=MaxfieldHall>{{cite web|accessdate=March 14, 2025
|url=https://engineering.rice.edu/news/rice-cuts-ribbon-maxfield-hall
|title=Rice cuts ribbon on Maxfield Hall:Newly transformed building, formerly known as the Mechanical Laboratory, now home to the Department of Statistics
|first=Patrick |last=Kurp|date=September 13, 2021
|work=Rice Engineering News|publisher=George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, Rice University}}
</ref>

<ref name=Fireside>{{cite web|accessdate=March 13, 2025
|url=https://eceweb.rice.edu/news/pioneers-innovation-fireside-chat
|title= Pioneers of Innovation: A Fireside Chat - Meet the ECE alumni who built a Fortune 500 Company and the engine of Silicon Valley
|publisher=Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University
|date=September 29, 2022}}
</ref>

<ref name=ROLM-Roundtable>{{cite web|accessdate=March 17, 2025
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyTuxVQgw6c |date=May 19, 2004
|title=Competing with Giants, ROLM Corporation - Roundtable with Gene Richeson, Ken Oshman, Walter Loewenstern, and Robert Maxfield
|publisher=Computer History Museum|via=YouTube.com|quote=Bob was number one in his class." ~Gene Richeson (at 22:57)}}
</ref>

<ref name=IThistory-Bio>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://www.ithistory.org/honor-roll/dr-robert-bob-r-maxfield
|title=Dr. Robert (Bob) R. Maxfield |publisher=IT History Society|author=Rice Alliance|date=December 21, 2015
}}
</ref>

<ref name=SantaFe-Obit>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://www.santafe.edu/news-center/news/in-memoriam-robert-maxfield
|publisher= [Santa Fe Institute](/source/Santa_Fe_Institute)
|title=In Memoriam: Robert Maxfield|date=August 28, 2024}}
</ref>

<ref name=Equilar-Bio>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://people.equilar.com/bio/robert-maxfield-rice-university/144937
|title=Profile: Dr. Robert R. Maxfield, Advisor at Rice University
|date=October 7, 2024|author=Santa Fe Institute|via=Equilar}}
</ref>

<ref name=RiceAlli-Bio>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=http://www.alliance.rice.edu/External_Advisory_Board/
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603205917/http://www.alliance.rice.edu/External_Advisory_Board/
|archivedate=June 3, 2012
|title=External Advisory Board: Dr. Robert R. Maxfield, Private Investor
|publisher=Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship, Rice University}}
</ref>

<ref name=AmazonProfile-Katherine>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00GXLCIPA/about|title=About the Author:Katherine Maxfield
|publisher=Amazon}}
</ref>

<ref name=SEC>{{cite press release|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31347/000119312508096910/dex991.htm
|title=Industry Veteran Robert R. Maxfield Joins Echelon in Interim Role of Senior Vice President, Products
|date=April 29, 2008 |publisher=Echelon Corporation
|via=[SEC.gov](/source/U.S._Securities_and_Exchange_Commission)}}
</ref>

<ref name=ROLM-Katherine>{{cite book |last=Maxfield |first=Katherine |date=2014 |title=Starting Up Silicon Valley: How ROLM Became a Cultural Icon and Fortune 500 Company |location=Austin, TX |publisher=Emerald Book Company}}
</ref>
<ref name=ResearchGate-Bio>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert-Maxfield-2|title=Profile: Robert Maxfield}}</ref> 
<ref name=FoundationCenter-Maxfield>{{cite web|accessdate=March 15, 2025
|url=https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=MAXF001#
|title=Maxfield Foundation|publisher=Foundation Center}}
</ref>

<ref name=OpenStax-2017>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://openstax.org/blog/bob-maxfield-wins-award-service-envisions-ed-techs-future/
|title=Bob Maxfield wins award for service, envisions ed tech's future; An OpenStax strategic advisor shares his inspiration and vision|first=Courtney |last=Raymond|date=October 17, 2017
|publisher=OpenStax.org}}
</ref>

<ref name=OpenStax-Home>{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://openstax.org/ |title=OpenStax. Access. The future of education.}}
</ref>

}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Maxfield |first=Katherine |date=2014 |title=Starting Up Silicon Valley: How ROLM Became a Cultural Icon and Fortune 500 Company |location=Austin, TX |publisher=Emerald Book Company |isbn=978-1937110628 }}

==External links==
*{{cite web|accessdate=March 18, 2025
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTC_RxWN_xo&t=1s
|title=Secret History of Silicon Valley |publisher=Computer History Museum|date=November 20, 2008
|first=Steve |last=Blank|via=YouTube.com}}

* {{cite web|accessdate=March 16, 2025
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0nfYcoeGys
|title=From Prune Shed to Silicon Valley Success - The Story of ROLM |format=video
|first=Katherine|last=Maxfield |date=December 20, 2014|via=YouTube.com}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maxfield, Robert Roy}}
Category:1941 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:American businesspeople
Category:American electrical engineers
Category:American technology company founders
Category:Rice University alumni
Category:Santa Fe Institute people
Category:Silicon Valley people
Category:Stanford University School of Engineering alumni
Category:Stanford University School of Engineering faculty

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Maxfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maxfield) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maxfield?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.