Mr. Eugene M. Stoner

Mr. Eugene M. Stoner was born on November 22, 1922. He has made outstanding contributions in the design, development, and production technology of small arms weaponry and ammunition.

A formal listing of Mr. Stoner's accomplishments during the past two decades in armament systems is most impressive. As designer and developer of the M16 rifle and the 5.56mm round of ammunition, he has advanced the state-of-the-art in weaponry not only in America but all over the world.

Now, others of his weapons systems are being evaluated by the Army. He has served as advisor and consultant for many armament and ordnance companies as well as serving on the Small Arms Committee for the office of the Secretary of Defense.

His genius lies in his innate and unique ability to understand the required military characteristics of a modern automatic weapons system and to conceive designs which embody excellent human engineering features. His record of success is shared by very few. In 1978, he held over 100 patents in ordnance equipment ranging from small-caliber survival rifles to a medium-sized high-velocity, rapid-fire cannon. Mr. Stoner is president, co-founder, and chief executive of the Ares Corporation in Port Clinton, Ohio.