Bryce Pettey
I started working at BMA Data Processing in the Summer of 1962, between my junior and senior year of high school, working with Paul Evans, John Russell, and Gordon and Ted Granger. BMA was at about 1400 South State in SLC, but a year later they moved to 340 E 400 S in SLC, adding a gigantic GE computer. There we were joined by Keith Stoddard, Charles Burgoyne, and another programmer. I worked upstairs with the old IBM accounting machines, while Charles and the programmers were downstairs with the GE. I was just an 17 year-old kid with no knowledge of computers, but I soon learned that this wonderful, big-bodied guy the others all called "Charley" was not only a brilliant programmer, but one of the nicest people once could ever meet.
The GE was apparently a great computer for scientific research, but not for business applications, so BMA soon changed to a Burroughs computer. After a year, I left on a mission, but BMA hired me upon my return. In my first Summer back, Charles decided I should try my hand at programming. It took me about a month to write my first - and only - program, but he wouldn't let me give up until it was completed. (I later learned that after I left BMA after college, a problem had surfaced with my program.
Charles tried to figure out how I'd written the program, but finally gave up and rewrote it from scratch in about 15 minutes.) I recall some of the other BMA employees telling me the Burroughs engineers said that when they went back and told the people at Burroughs headquarters what Charles was able to get their machines to do, they were totally amazed. They wanted BMA (really Charles) to share what they were doing with Burroughs, so they could market it to others, but BMA was controlled by Central Bank & Trust of Provo, so all the programs, etc., belonged to CB&T, and CB&T wouldn't allow it.
I saw Charles only once after I left BMA in 1972, and that was sometime in the early 1980's. There was a building with "Burgoyne Computers" on it that I used to walk by. I went in one day and asked if Charles was available. He came out of his office, and we chatted for about 15-20 minutes. He was as kind and gracious as ever. By then personal computers were everywhere, but I knew nothing about them. He told me if he could ever be of any assistance to let him know, and he'd be happy to help.
When I left on my mission in 1964, my younger brother, Trent, took my place at BMA. When I learned from the Davis Clipper of Charles' passing, I let Trent know. His response was, "I remember Charlie well. One of the nicest guys I've ever met." I couldn't agree more.
On this Memorial Day, may Charles' family have peace and comfort as they honor him. A great, brilliant, kind and gentle man has passed from this world. Fortunately for us, we not only know he still lives in the next world, but we also have memories of him and his good deeds, his kindness, and his professional achievements tom comfort us in this one.
Bryce Pettey