[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PAUL WILBUR KLIPSCH: AN INNOVATOR AND AN INSPIRATION

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                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary Arkansan, a great inventor, engineer, and scientist, who 
left his mark not only on my district, but on our nation's history as 
well. His name was Paul Wilbur Klipsch.
  Paul Klipsch was well known for many things, but was best known for 
his contributions in revolutionizing the world of audio. From a very 
young age, he became fascinated with acoustics and radio, and even 
built his own radio receiver a year before the first public radio 
broadcast. That fascination would follow him the rest of his life.
  His career began in 1926 after graduating from New Mexico State 
University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, when he was 
employed by General Electric to work with radio. He went on to earn his 
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, 
continuing research in audio frequency and efficiency.
  After serving in World War II, Paul decided to dedicate his life to 
building loudspeakers, determined to achieve accurate sound 
reproduction. From his home in Hope, Arkansas, he spent years 
researching and conducting experiments, and much of his work was 
patented. In his lifetime, Klipsch was granted three patents in 
ballistics, eight in geophysics, and twelve in acoustics. His Heritage 
Line of speakers are known worldwide for their quality and accuracy 
that set industry standards. In fact, I enjoy using them in my own home
  Paul Klipsch received numerous awards during his lifetime. He has had 
buildings, lecture halls, and auditoriums named in his honor. Perhaps 
his most distinguished honor came in 1997, when he was inducted and 
enshrined in the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame joining members 
like Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, and the Wright Brothers. He was 
recognized as a visionary for improving the quality of life for all 
humanity.
  The same can be said for both his professional and personal life. An 
avid philanthropist, Klipsch spent his 98 years on this Earth trying to 
better the lives of his neighbors. He always gave credit to Divine 
Guidance, and invoked it frequently. He has been described as raw, 
eccentric, straightforward, controversial, fascinating, whimsical, and 
extraordinary.
  My heart goes out to Paul's wife of nearly 26 years, Valerie, their 
son, Raymond, and their two grandchildren as they deal with this 
difficult loss, and I am keeping all of them in my thoughts and 
prayers. While he may no longer be with us, his life and legacy will be 
remembered for generations to come.

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