# William R. Reagan

> William Ralph Reagan was the founder and original chairman and CEO of LoJack Corporation. A former Medfield, Massachusetts selectman and police commissioner, he developed a radio-based stolen-vehicle recovery system, received a U.S. patent in 1979, and helped bring the system to market in Massachusetts in 1986. He died on July 1, 2013, aged 78. The LoJack brand later became part of Solera’s portfolio.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur, inventor, former naval aviator and municipal official
- **Organizations:** LoJack Corporation, W.R. Reagan Associates, Inc., Avco Corporation, United States Navy, Medfield Board of Selectmen, Medfield Youth Hockey
- **From:** Brockton, United States
- **Education:** St. Sebastian’s School, University of Notre Dame
- **Known for:** Named inventor on U.S. patent 4,177,466, Auto theft detection system., Founded LoJack and served as its original chairman and CEO., Helped establish Medfield Youth Hockey and coached in the program.

## Career timeline

- **1950s-1960s** — Served as a U.S. Navy patrol plane commander.
- **1967** — Moved to Medfield with his wife, Genevieve.
- **1972** — Founded Reagan Associates, a mergers and acquisitions firm.
- **1976-1981** — Served on Medfield’s Board of Selectmen, whose responsibilities included police oversight.
- **1977** — Filed the application for the auto theft detection system patent on November 16.
- **1979** — U.S. patent 4,177,466 granted on December 4.
- **1986** — LoJack system launched commercially in Massachusetts; Reagan’s tenure as chairman and CEO ended that year.
- **2013** — Died July 1, aged 78.

## Achievements

- Named inventor on U.S. patent 4,177,466, Auto theft detection system.
- Founded LoJack and served as its original chairman and CEO.
- Helped establish Medfield Youth Hockey and coached in the program.

## Latest updates

- **2013-07** — LoJack announced Reagan’s death on July 1 at age 78.
- **2014-05** — LoJack introduced a video series whose opening chapter discussed Reagan’s mission and the company’s origins.

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Last updated: 2026-10-23