Hal Prewitt

Lore & Background

Prewitt grew up in the Daytona Beach, Florida area from 1963 to 1976, where he first encountered auto racing and volunteered at Daytona International Speedway. At age 13 in 1967, he built his first computer, which performed simple math and operated his phonograph. He later built an Altair 8800 in 1975 and obtained his first business application customer that same year, selling and programming for the IBM 5100 and System/32.

In 1970, while in high school, Prewitt started his first business, Ranger Systems, which had divisions for manufacturing, marketing, houseboat rentals, and automotive engineering. He operated Ranger Systems until 1975, then created International Computer to build, sell, and program computers. In late 1979, he founded Core International from the assets of International Computer and Southeast Computer Consultants. Core developed hardware and software for IBM 5110-series systems, later expanding into disk arrays and data storage, and grew to operate internationally with offices in Europe and Asia.

Reader's Guide

Prewitt's significance lies in his early and sustained contributions to personal computer hardware and software for IBM microcomputer systems, particularly through Core International. The company produced hot-swappable disk drives, controllers, host adapters, and power supplies, addressing the lack of built-in hard drives in early IBM systems. Core's growth was recognized by Inc. magazine, which ranked it 21st on its Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in 1986. Prewitt served as chairman and CEO until the company was acquired by Aiwa in 1993. His later career included founding Prewitt Enterprises, an agricultural and investment business that grows oranges and supplies Tropicana's Pure Premium, and Prewitt Management, an art business. In racing, he set numerous lap records, won the 2006 NASA National Championship, and in his final year (2015) finished as the No. 1 American and fourth out of 819 international drivers in the International Endurance Series Championship.

Did You Know?

• Prewitt built his first computer at age 13 in 1967, which performed simple math and operated his phonograph.
• He sold his first artwork, a painting, at age 16.
• Core International was ranked 21st on Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list in 1986.