Walter Zable

Walter J. Zable
Photo courtesy of Cubic Corporation
Born	(1915-06-17)June 17, 1915 Los Angeles, California
Died	June 23, 2012(2012-06-23) (aged 97) San Diego, California
Nationality	American
Alma mater	College of William & Mary (B.S) University of Florida (M.S.)
Occupation	Founder, chairman and CEO of Cubic Corporation
Years active	1951–2012
Known for	World's oldest public company CEO at time of death; All-American college football player; semi-professional football player for the Richmond Arrows
Home town	Boston, Massachusetts
Board member of	University of San Diego
Spouse(s)	Betty Virginia Carter Zable (1942–2007)
Children	2
Website	Cubic Corporation bio

Walter Joseph Zable (June 17, 1915 – June 23, 2012) was an American businessman, entrepreneur, semi-professional football player and standout college athlete. He was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cubic Corporation, a public corporation providing military defense equipment and automated fare collection equipment. At the time of Zable's death, he was the world's oldest public company CEO and Cubic was worth 1.28 billion dollars. Earlier in his life he had played semi-professional football for the Richmond Arrows in the Dixie League. Some sources also mention him as having played for the National Football League's New York Giants, although no official Giants records exist of his having played for the team.

Walter J. Zable was born in Los Angeles, California. However, he grew up in Boston, Massachusetts during the Great Depression while his father worked as a mill worker. Before Zable even reached high school he had already taken a keen interest in electronics. During the daytime he would work on his athletic ability—specifically his football, baseball and track and field prowess—and at nighttime he was enrolled in Boston Trade School where he would take classes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Years later Zable recounted that "electronics and athletics were [his] life." He graduated from high school in 1933.

Zable earned a full athletic scholarship to the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He chose William & Mary over Harvard University which was much closer to home and also offered him an academic scholarship. Zable suited up for the Indians football team from 1934 through 1936. He enjoyed success on the gridiron and earned honorable mention All-America accolades his senior year. In addition to football, Zable also lettered in baseball, basketball, and track and field.