Remembering Huntsville technology business leader Stephen “Steve” Foster Thornton

Stephen “Steve” Foster Thornton, passed away on May 5, 2024, at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and leadership. Best known for leading Cybex Corporation for more than 20 years as President and CEO, Thornton’s early career as an electrical engineer saw him make contributions during the Vietnam War and to NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon.

Born and raised in Rogersville, Ala., Thornton graduated from Lauderdale County High School in 1958. He attended the University of Montevallo and later transferred to Auburn University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. 

Thornton’s early contributions were as a site manager in electronic counter-countermeasures at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., during the Vietnam War. He later joined Boeing and the launch team for the Apollo Missions to the moon. His effort to resolve a critical kerosene leak earned him the prestigious NASA Zero Defects Award.

Upon relocating to Huntsville, Steve joined SCI as a Test Engineer and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually assuming the role of vice president of the company’s military communications products division. He joined the Board of Directors of Cybex Corporation in 1983, where he subsequently served as President and CEO.

Under Thornton’s leadership, Cybex Corporation experienced unprecedented growth, including becoming a publicly traded company, establishing a European headquarters, and merging with an industry rival to form Avocent Corporation. Thornton’s vision and leadership propelled Avocent as an international leader in network management equipment, switching, and remote access solutions with a loyal customer base that included some of the world’s largest technology companies, retailers, and financial institutions.

Among his many achievements and awards with the company, his most notable were Entrepreneur of the Year (Southeast Division) by Ernst and Young in 1999 and induction to the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2001.