[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16387-16388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PHILO T. FARNSWORTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM MATHESON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2002

  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, l rise today to honor the achievements of 
Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television.
  Though his name is largely unknown in much of the world, Philo was 
born in Beaver City, Utah and later moved to Idaho. At the age of just 
14 he conceived of the idea of manipulating electrons while plowing a 
field on his father's farm.
  Seven years later he demonstrated his invention for a small circle of 
friends and family in San Francisco--and television was born. September 
7, 2002 marks the 75th anniversary of Philo's remarkable invention.
  Philo struggled to establish a patent for his invention, taking on 
electronics giant RCA. He

[[Page 16388]]

battled the corporate giant for the patent rights and his dedication 
and persistence paid off.
  Philo later went on to develop radar systems and the electron 
microscope in addition to conducting research on nuclear fusion. It was 
only after his death in 1971 that Philo's achievements in television 
were acknowledged.
  In 1992, the state of Utah presented the United States Capitol with a 
gift, the statue of Philo Farnsworth that now graces the Hall of 
Columns, downstairs from this Chamber.
  He was hard working and imaginative, as so many Utahns are, and I 
would like to honor his efforts today. His enthusiastic interest in 
science sparked a series a series of technological advancements that 
truly shaped the 20th century.

                          ____________________