Forgotten Third Founder Crucial to Apple's Genesis

Bill Fernandez, a user interface architect and Apple's first full-time employee, was instrumental in bringing together future co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. His connection to both men, and his subsequent employment with the budding company, highlights a lesser-known aspect of Apple's origin story.

Fernandez, an electronics enthusiast who grew up in the technological heartland of Silicon Valley in the 1960s and 70s, befriended Steve Wozniak, who lived across the street. They bonded over shared interests in electronics and collaborated on projects using scavenged parts.

When Steve Jobs joined the same school district as Fernandez, his presence at Fernandez's home became so constant that Fernandez's mother reportedly called him her fifth son. Fernandez introduced Jobs to Wozniak during a chance encounter, sparking a collaboration that would lead to the creation of Apple.

Fernandez officially joined Apple in 1977 as its first full-time employee. His technical skills were crucial in translating Wozniak's vision for the Apple II into manufacturable schematics. He later rejoined the company to work on the Macintosh development team, a project that solidified Apple's place in the industry. Though he departed the company in 1993, his early contributions remain a significant part of Apple's foundational narrative.