L. R. Fulkerson was an American mathematician known for his significant contributions to the field of combinatorial optimization and graph theory. He is particularly recognized for his work on network flows and matching theory, which are essential concepts in operations research and computer science. His research has influenced various applications, including transportation and logistics. Fulkerson co-authored the influential book, “Network Flows: Theory, Algorithms, and Applications,” which has served as a foundational text in the study of network optimization. He was also involved in the development of the Max-Flow Min-Cut Theorem, a key principle in understanding flow networks.