[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7612-7613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 HONORING THE LATE LEONARD JAMES KELLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to an outstanding 
American who served his country with distinction both as a military 
officer and as an engineer who was dedicated to protecting and 
improving the quality of life of all our citizens. Leonard James 
Keller, a citizen of Bonham, TX, in the

[[Page 7613]]

Fourth District, died on November 27, 1999, leaving behind a legacy of 
service to his country.
  Born on February 25, 1925 in Duenweg, MO, Leonard Keller fought in 
both World War II and the Korean war. He was commissioned an officer 
and cited for heroism while serving with the 43d Infantry Division in 
Luzon, Philippine Islands. After the wars, Mr. Keller graduated with 
honors in mining engineering and geology at Missouri School of Mines 
and Metallurgy in 1955 and received the W.A. Tarr Award as the 
outstanding graduate in the earth sciences field. He also was honored 
in Who's Who of North America.
  As a registered professional engineer, Mr. Keller was an inventor of 
record, with a remarkable 17 U.S. patents in his name. An expert in his 
field, he authored numerous technical papers, some of which have 
previously been entered into the Congressional Record. Mr. Keller spent 
15 years working for five major U.S. corporations in engineering, 
research, and technical services and management before cofounding the 
Keller Corp. in 1969. In 1975, he also cofounded the Methacoal Corp. of 
which he served as president. His coinventor partner, the late Austin 
N. Stanton, also of Bonham, TX, who died 5 years earlier to the day, 
was a renowned inventor who received numerous awards and is known as 
the inventor of microcircuitry--the precursor to the computer age--and 
the founder of Varo Corp.
  Mr. Keller was a visionary in his field. His inventions likely will 
come to fruition in the coming years. These include a BiRotor device 
that will enable the direct methanol fuel cell to power automobiles, a 
water purification system that turns sea water into distilled water, an 
environmental oxygen system, the use of methacoal instead of coal to 
reduce smog and hurricane-proof, tornado-resistant homes. These are 
just a few of the technologies that Mr. Keller developed with his 
partner, Mr. Stanton--technologies designed to improve the quality of 
life for everyone.
  Mr. Keller was a dedicated member of the First Christian Church, 
Disciples of Christ, in Bonham, where he served as an elder, and he was 
active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4852 in Bonham. He also was 
dedicated to his family and is survived by his wife of 57 years, 
Marjorie Maxine Keller; sons Jerry, Steve, and David; one grandson; two 
granddaughters; five great-grandsons; one nephew; and two nieces.
  Mr. Keller will long be remembered for his many contributions to his 
country and community, and he will be sorely missed by his loving 
family and his many friends in Bonham. As we adjourn today, Mr. 
Speaker, let us pay our last respects to this outstanding American, 
Leonard James Keller, who envisioned a better future for all of us.

                          ____________________