[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 485 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 485

Expressing appreciation for the profound public service and educational 
contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, fondly known as ``Mr. Wizard''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 14, 2007

 Mr. Ehlers (for himself, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. 
 Lampson, Mr. Kuhl of New York, and Mr. Akin) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing appreciation for the profound public service and educational 
contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, fondly known as ``Mr. Wizard''.

Whereas many citizens of the United States remember Donald Jeffry Herbert as 
        ``Mr. Wizard'' and mourn his passing;
Whereas Don Herbert was born in Waconia, Minnesota and graduated from the La 
        Crosse State Teacher's College in Wisconsin in 1940 where he trained to 
        be a science teacher;
Whereas Don Herbert volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps and served our 
        country in the Atlantic theater and earned the Distinguished Flying 
        Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters;
Whereas Don Herbert developed the idea for science programming culminating in 
        ``Watch Mr. Wizard'', a live television show produced from 1951 to 1964 
        and honored by a Peabody Award in 1954;
Whereas the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society lauded 
        Don Herbert and his show for promoting interest in science and his 
        contributions to science education and has since been recognized by 
        numerous awards;
Whereas an additional educational program, ``Mr. Wizard's World'', inspired 
        children from 1983 to 1990 on cable television;
Whereas ``Mr. Wizard'' continued to serve as an ambassador for science education 
        by authoring multiple books and programs, and by traveling to schools 
        and providing classroom demonstrations;
Whereas educational research indicates that young children make decisions about 
        future careers at a very early age and are influenced greatly by 
        positive contacts with science and technology;
Whereas a strong education in science and technology is one of the building 
        blocks of a productive, competitive, and healthy society;
Whereas ``Mr. Wizard'' encouraged children to duplicate his experiments at home, 
        driving independent inquiry into science with simple household 
        equipment;
Whereas ``Mr. Wizard's'' dynamic and energetic science experiments attracted 
        unprecedented numbers of children to educational programming, even those 
        who were disinterested or unmotivated in science;
Whereas Mr. Wizard Science Clubs were started across the United States and had 
        more than 100,000 children enrolled in 5,000 clubs by the mid-1950s; and
Whereas Don Herbert will be remembered as a pioneer of commercial educational 
        programming and instrumental in making science education exciting and 
        approachable for millions of children across the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its appreciation for the profound public 
        service and educational contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert;
            (2) recognizes the profound impact of higher educational 
        institutions that train teachers;
            (3) encourages students to honor the heritage of Don 
        Herbert by exploring our world through science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics fields; and
            (4) tenders its condolences to the family of Don Herbert 
        and thanks them for their strong familial support of him.
                                 <all>