[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 200 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 200

 Honoring the life of Nobel Laureate Jack St. Clair Kilby, inventor of 
  the integrated circuit and innovative leader in the Information Age.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 18, 2005

Mr. Cornyn submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the life of Nobel Laureate Jack St. Clair Kilby, inventor of 
  the integrated circuit and innovative leader in the Information Age.

Whereas in July 1958, Mr. Kilby, as a young engineer, resolved a long-standing 
        engineering problem, known as the ``tyranny of numbers'', which 
        prevented engineers from simply and reliably interconnecting electronic 
        components to form circuits by developing the first working integrated 
        circuit;
Whereas on September 12, 1958, Mr. Kilby demonstrated the first working 
        integrated circuit for his colleagues at Texas Instruments, Inc. in 
        Dallas, Texas;
Whereas the resulting integrated circuit contributed to national defense by 
        facilitating the development of the Minuteman Missile and other 
        programs;
Whereas the integrated circuit was central to creating the modern computer and 
        communications industries;
Whereas the creation of the integrated circuit has benefitted the people of 
        Texas by spurring the economy of the State with strong semiconductor and 
        communications sectors and has enabled the integrated circuit industry 
        to enjoy phenomenal growth from $29,000,000,000 annually in 1961 to 
        nearly $1,150,000,000,000 in 2005;
Whereas on October 10, 2000, 42 years after demonstrating the first integrated 
        circuit, Mr. Kilby shared the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics for his part 
        in the invention of the integrated circuit;
Whereas the integrated circuit, known today as the microchip, was the first chip 
        of its kind, drove the technological growth of the Information Age, 
        permitted both the rapid evolution and the miniaturization of 
        technological products, and provided a foundation for important advances 
        in science and medicine that are saving and enriching lives around the 
        world;
Whereas Mr. Kilby further advanced technological progress by inventing more than 
        60 additional patented items, including the hand-held calculator and the 
        thermal printer;
Whereas Mr. Kilby retired from Texas Instruments, Inc. after 25 years of 
        dedicated service but maintained his presence at the company as a source 
        of inspiration to generations of young engineers until his death on June 
        20, 2005;
Whereas Mr. Kilby committed himself to education, serving as a Distinguished 
        Professor of Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University from 1978 to 
        1984, sharing with students the breadth of his knowledge and expertise;
Whereas Mr. Kilby is 1 of only 13 individuals to receive both the National Medal 
        of Science and National Medal of Technology, the most prestigious awards 
        of the Federal Government for technical achievement;
Whereas the National Academy of Engineering, an independent nonprofit 
        institution that advises the Federal Government on engineering and 
        technology issues, awarded Mr. Kilby the 1989 Charles Stark Draper 
        Prize, 1 of the preeminent awards for engineering achievement in the 
        world;
Whereas the Inamori Foundation, a charitable institution in Japan dedicated to 
        promoting international understanding by honoring individuals who have 
        contributed to scientific progress, culture, and human betterment, 
        bestowed upon Mr. Kilby the 1993 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology to 
        recognize his contributions to humanity and society;
Whereas Mr. Kilby inspired the creation of the awards named after him, the Kilby 
        International Awards, which honor unsung heroes and heroines who make 
        significant contributions to society through science, technology, 
        innovation, invention, and education;
Whereas Mr. Kilby was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 
        established in 1973 by the Patent and Trademark Office of the Department 
        of Commerce and the National Council of Intellectual Property 
        Associations, alongside other great inventors in United States history;
Whereas Mr. Kilby, a member of the ``Greatest Generation'', served the United 
        States in World War II as a member of the United States Army;
Whereas Mr. Kilby will be remembered not only as a great technological 
        innovator, but also as a loving husband, dedicated father, and devoted 
        grandfather; and
Whereas Mr. Kilby's invention of the integrated circuit revolutionized nearly 
        all aspects of modern life, has made technology more affordable and more 
        accessible to the world, and will continue to exert tremendous influence 
        on the development of technology in the 21st century: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the 
        announcement of the death of Nobel Laureate Jack St. Clair 
        Kilby;
            (2) commends Mr. Kilby for his pioneering work in the 
        fields of engineering and electronics, which laid the 
        foundation for the technological advances of the 20th and 21st 
        centuries; and
            (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit 1 
        enrolled copy of this resolution to Mr. Kilby's family.
                                 <all>