#PICKis50 - 50th Anniversary of PICK/MultiValue
Pick - The System You Grow Into Not Out Of - that phrase is as true today as it was back then. We here at Pick Cloud are proud of our heritage. It’s in our blood.
Pick Cloud conducted a survey earlier this year to get quotes and memories from the MultiValue community on the 50th anniversary of PICK/MultiValue. Some results of our survey can be seen in the photos throughout this blog post. We are also posting some throwback photos as sent to us by various members of the PICK/MultiValue community. A BIG thank you to Jon Sisk and Marcie (Gebauer) Miller for supplying us with photos! If you would like to send us any photos or memories, we will add them to this blog.
PICK on Sequoia - Pictured: Tim Holland, Dick Pick and Rich Lauer.
Quote from survey questions
In your own words, what comments, quotes or anecdotes regarding the 50th PICK/MultiValue anniversary can you share with us? At the 1990 Anaheim Spectrum show. A talk from Dick who naturally hadn't prepared for the stated subject, so skipped it saying "I really must pay more attention to these things" and just gave his usual talk - including the always-present phrase "a few problems with semaphores". He was treated like a megastar and could do no wrong.
Dick Pick at Comdex 1987 - Pick Pavilion video
Quote from survey questions
Fifty years is a long time in the computer industry, especially for a database environment like PICK of which the core architecture is still in play today. What feature, enhancement or event do you think had the biggest impact in the PICK market? Example: "The implementation to the UNIX environment in the 80's was a significant milestone. The ability to add-on new technology is real proof that this database is really powerful! For example ported to Windows sometime back in 1999 and going to cloud.
Pictured Dick Pick, Rich Lauer, Tim Holland
Whether you like it or not, the famous Pick rap on video
PICK Rap Lyrics - authors John Treankler and Jon Sisk of JES.com
Dick Pick and the IBM Series/I Imachine. 3 Piece suit mandatory when working with BIG Blue.
Microdata ad
#PICKis50 survey question #1 results
Pick Hits - a list of thousands of PICK apps and resellers back in the day.
Quote from survey questions
If you could change one thing about the PICK market and/or product, what would it be and why? I would like to see a larger push outside the PICK market to bring in new talent. The industry is too busy preaching to the choir. Additionally there needs to be a push in academia. PICK or MultiValue needs to be introduced at the college level so students seeking MIS degrees are at the very least aware of MultiValue.
Top 20 salespeople in PICK - Spectrum magazine Mar/Apr 1993. Top: Catherine Anbil (OHM Systems, Inc.), Mike Sutkowski (VMark Software). Bottom: Mark Pick (Pick Systems), Stacey Smith (Dynix, Inc.), Bruce Randall (CUBS).
Pictured Tim Holland, Ian Sandler and Henry Eggers
#PICKis50 survey question #2 results - correct answer Bank of Guam
Quote from survey questions
If you could change one thing about the PICK market and/or product, what would it be and why? I would like to see a larger push outside the PICK market to bring in new talent. The industry is too busy preaching to the choir. Additionally there needs to be a push in academia. PICK or MultiValue needs to be introduced at the college level so students seeking MIS degrees are at the very least aware of MultiValue.
#PICKis50 survey question #3 results
Dick Pick and Don Nelson - the guys who started it all 50 years ago with the creation of GIRLS.
#PICKis50 survey question #7 results. A lot of people have been working in PICK for long time. What a testament to the database and the community.
Quote from survey questions
What was your favorite PICK/MultiValue event and why? The annual Spectrum shows, back in the "good old days" -- when there were hospitality suites every night, and a themed party at the end! The educational sessions were informative and helpful. I really enjoyed speaking at these conferences, and interfacing with so many users from all around the country!
Pick World cover from November/December 1991
Quote from survey questions
Favorite memory from past 50 years?
Meeting Dick Pick in person at a conference, and having the opportunity to thank him for creating a product that has been my livelihood for the last 38 years.
Ian Sandler - most famous for his many enhancements to The Pick Operating System. Better known as R91.
PICK wordle
Pick bookstore: Lisa Levsen, Henry Eggers and Linda Gardner-King
PICK - Best kept secret article. Still is.
Quote from survey questions
In your own words, what comments, quotes or anecdotes regarding the 50th PICK/MultiValue anniversary can you share with us?
I have made a very successful living in the Pick environment, for the simple reason that it is a great database and development environment.
Ken Simms - creator of PICK BASIC and his 4GL package called Wizard.
Pick World magazine May/June 1991 edition. Pictured left to right are: Brian Stone (Alcyona), Frederic Cross (Patio Informatique), Paul Sanderson (Sanderson Computers LTD) and Mark Mueller (Monolith Corp.)
Dick Pick speaking to a reporter from his remote office in Newport Beach, The Balboa Bay Club.
Article about Dick Pick that shows his free spirit.
From left to right - Bill Wulff, x, Bill Thurman, x. Steve Lambert
Cliff Meyers
Bob Markowitz of Systems Management, Inc.
Who remembers this? Dick Pick and his anti-gravity boots!
Pick staff circa 1980s. Can you name everyone in this photo?
Byte Magazine Article circa 1984