Bill Fernandez

William "Bill" Fernandez was the first employee to join Apple Computer, after its original co-founders.

History
Fernandez attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he met future Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. He had also met Steve Jobs in Cupertino Junior High School. In 1969, he first introduced Jobs to Wozniak, while the latter was washing his car. Fernandez's mother Bambi decorated the family home with, which influenced Jobs' interest in Japanese art.



In 1971, Wozniak and Fernandez worked together on their first computer board, called Cream Soda, which used punch cards, while consuming Cragmont Cream Soda. The computer was built in the garage of the home of Fernandez' father, also named Bill Fernandez, who was the mayor of Sunnyvale at the time. The elder Fernandez later became a Superior Court Judge of the County of Santa Clara.

Apple Computer
While the original Apple Computer Company was still based in the garage of Steve Jobs's parents in 1976, Fernandez was asked to help as an electronic technician on the Apple I. After Apple Computer was incorporated in January 1977, he was assigned a badge as employee #4, after Wozniak, Jobs, and early investor Mike Markkula. Fernandez worked on the hardware of the Apple II and Macintosh. He was also involved in software projects such as classic Mac OS, HyperCard, and QuickTime. Fernandez remained with Apple until 1993.