[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 62 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E686-E687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF GEORGE RATHMANN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 27, 2012

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the 
father of biotechnology. On Sunday, April 22, 2012 George B. Rathmann 
passed away due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 84. He is 
survived by his wife, Joy, of 61 years, his five children, and thirteen 
grandchildren. Dr. Rathmann had the vision to see how biotechnology 
could revolutionize the practice of medicine and he brought that vision 
to life.
  Dr. Rathmann and I were both born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing 
up, George was drawn to science by his older brother, who was also a 
chemist. He received his doctorate in physical chemistry from Princeton 
University and went on to work for several pharmaceutical firms before 
venturing into the fledging field of biotechnology. Dr. Rathmann co-
founded Amgen in 1980 working out of makeshift trailers, in Thousand 
Oaks, California. Today, Amgen works to discover, develop, manufacture 
and deliver innovative human therapeutics. Under Dr. Rathmann's 
leadership, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize 
biotechnology's promise by bringing safe, effective medicine from the 
lab to the manufacturing plant and, finally, to the patient.
  In 1990, Dr. Rathmann retired from Amgen. He quickly became bored 
with sedentary life. He returned to the biotech industry the following 
year, when he founded Seattle based ICOS Corporation. In addition to 
his successful career, George was a philanthropist. He created the 
Rathmann Foundation, which donates to worthy causes in the health, 
education, arts, and environmental arenas.
  I invite my colleagues to join me in remembering a man who dedicated 
his life to science and discovery. Dr. Rathmann was a brilliant man 
whose work in biotechnology revolutionized the industry, produced 
countless scientific breakthroughs, and saved many lives. He has 
rightfully earned the title of the Father of Biotechnology.

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