[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 91 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H3923-H3924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING JOHN NASH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Jenkins) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on May 23, 2015, the world 
lost one of the brightest mathematicians of the 20th century. John 
Nash, Jr., and his wife, Alicia, were tragically killed in a car 
accident, and I offer my sincerest condolences to their family.

[[Page H3924]]

  John Nash, Jr., was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, on June 13, 
1928. At a young age, he displayed immense intelligence and an affinity 
for mathematics. Many may know Dr. Nash's story from the movie, ``A 
Beautiful Mind,'' where he was portrayed by actor Russell Crowe, but 
many are unaware of the groundbreaking impacts he had in the field of 
mathematics and economics.
  In 1994, Dr. Nash shared a Nobel Prize in economics for his work on 
game theory. Dr. Nash's work developed the concept of an equilibrium in 
noncooperative games that has come to be known as the Nash equilibrium. 
Today, economics students across the world are familiar with Dr. Nash's 
contributions to the field of economics, studying the Nash equilibrium 
and game theory exclusively.
  He revolutionized economics, and his work will have lasting impacts 
in business, sports, politics, and is even applicable to nuclear 
deterrence theories. Dr. Nash's work in pure mathematics is just as 
important and revolutionary as his work on game theory.
  Dr. John Nash was not only a genius, he was also an advocate for 
those suffering from mental health issues. As many who have seen the 
film know, Dr. Nash suffered from mental illness. He used his struggles 
as a way to help others with mental health problems, becoming a staunch 
supporter for awareness and outreach for those with mental health 
issues.
  Dr. Nash's advocacy work and brilliance will be missed by so many. 
This Saturday would have been John Nash's 87th birthday. Dr. Nash was 
clearly taken from us too soon, but his work and his advocacy will live 
on. The best way we can honor his legacy is to continue his fight for 
treatment, for education, and for dignity for those facing mental 
health issues and their families.

                          ____________________