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Ray Ozzie

Ray Ozzie

Lotus Notes creator | Ex-Microsoft executive | Class of 1979

Before he held lofty titles at Microsoft — among them: chief software architect, succeeding Bill Gates — Ray Ozzie was a local music junkie.

“One of the things I truly loved about going out in Champaign and Urbana was the music,” says the software pioneer, perhaps best known for creating Lotus Notes in the 1990s. “Whether on dates or between dates, a group of us met every Thursday night at the Red Lion — and at least one weekend night was always spent at Chances R.

“But my most memorable date was probably in May 1977, attending the opening of ‘Star Wars´ at the glorious Virginia Theatre in Champaign. 

“Star Wars! 70 mm! Incredible!”

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