[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11890-S11891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RETIREMENT OF DR. CHARLES TILL

 Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I take the floor today with 
some sadness, but also with a great deal of gratitude. I rise today to 
mark the retirement and celebrate the career of one of our Nation's 
great leaders in science, my constituent and my friend, Dr. Charles 
Till.
  At the end of this year, Dr. Till will conclude more than three 
decades of outstanding accomplishment at Argonne National Laboratory. 
For the past 13 years, Chuck has served as associate laboratory 
director over engineering research. Dr. Till's leadership, his vision, 
and his good humor will be sorely missed.
  Chuck Till sprang from humble beginnings, with little early 
indication of the opportunities and demands that lie ahead. He grew up 
on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, and by his own admission, and his 
father's observation, showed no outstanding aptitude for technical and 
mechanical things. This would change.
  Chuck entered the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned a 
bachelors degree in engineering physics and a masters degree in 
physics. He then attended the University of London, where he earned his 
doctorate in nuclear engineering. Apparently, somewhere along the way, 
this small town farm boy developed an aptitude for technical matters.
  Dr. Till's first job out of college found him in the unlikely, but 
not surprising, position of being in charge. He was hired by the 
Canadian General Electric Co., as reactor physicist and given 
responsibility for the start of the first prototype heavy water reactor 
in Canada--no small task for a first professional job. And of course, 
Chuck excelled.
  In 1963, Dr. Till joined Argonne National Laboratory as a reactor 
physicist. His rise in this great organization is best traced by his 
accomplishments rather than the positions he has held.
  Early on in his career, Chuck got the attention of scientists 
worldwide with a breakthrough advancement in fast reactor measurement 
techniques. The Doppler Effect was known to be crucially important, but 
its measurement was uncertain. Dr. Till completely revamped the heated 
sample Doppler technique, and an order-of-magnitude improvement in the 
measurement resulted. The technique became the standard worldwide, and 
essentially has not changed to this day.

[[Page S11891]]

  Dr. Till soon became responsible for all fast reactor work at 
Argonne, and continued to emerge as a leader in his field. Chuck wrote 
several important works examining technical issues of nuclear physics 
and engineering. Dr. Till has also served on several advisory 
committees and evaluation boards, and testified numerous times before 
congressional committees. Notably, Chuck served as technical director 
and a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Nuclear Fuel 
Cycle Evaluation, and was largely responsible for the United States 
retaining its leadership role in fast-reactor technology.
  But his greatest contribution, to both his discipline and to the 
world, lies in the development of the Integral Fast Reactor, the IFR. 
This inspired source of electrical power has the capability to achieve 
incredible efficiency in fuel use, while significantly lessening 
problems associated with reactor safety and nuclear water. In 1986, the 
IFR showed that it can protect itself from overheating and meltdown. It 
does so through the natural physical properties of the materials used 
rather than by relying on operator intervention or an engineered safety 
system. The IFR was also designed to burn most of its own waste, as 
well as that of other reactors and the material from dismantled 
weapons. Unfortunately, this program was canceled just 2 short years 
before the proof of concept. I assure my colleagues someday our Nation 
will regret and reverse this shortsighted decision. But complete or 
not, the concept and the work done to prove it remain genius and a 
great contribution to the world.
  Through his work on the Integral Fast Reactor program, Dr. Till 
demonstrated that his technical solutions out paced the ability of the 
political process to appreciate them. Dr. Till also demonstrated that 
technical leaders can take scientific material and present them in a 
manner understandable by citizens and Members of Congress. This skill 
is what makes Chuck Till such a valuable asset to me in my duties as a 
Member of the U.S. Senate.
  I am pleased and gratified that my work in the Senate has allowed me 
to get to know Chuck Till and his lovely wife Kay. I cannot question 
that this is the best decision for them, but Chuck's talents will be 
missed at Argonne National Lab.
  Perhaps the greatest legacy that one can leave is knowing your ideas 
and work are important enough to be carried on when one departs. We 
will do that with Chuck Till.
  I want to wish Chuck and Kay the very best in retirement and on 
behalf of a grateful nation, I want to say thank you for your unmatched 
contributions and service.

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