[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 28986-28987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF JACK FUCHS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 31, 2007

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize long-time 
Tempe resident, chemistry professor, professional tympanist and friend: 
Jack Fuchs.
  Jack Fuchs is a remarkable person with a lifetime of achievements. He 
recently retired after 55 years of teaching at my alma mater, Arizona 
State University. Those of us in the ASU community believe that he is 
the longest-serving faculty member in the history of the university.
  After serving in Europe during World War II, he arrived back in the 
States 62 years ago today. Jack wasted no time in pursuing a doctoral 
degree at the University of Illinois, which he earned in 1950. Two 
short years later, he packed up his car and set out for a teaching job 
in Tempe, which was located in foreign territory for an Illinois 
native--the deserts of Arizona.
  Rather than returning home, the Fuchs thrived and put down roots. In 
addition to his teaching duties, Jack played professionally as the 
principal tympanist with the Phoenix Symphony for 25 years. He shared 
the stage with the likes of Jack Benny, Pablo Casals and Andres 
Segovia, just to name a few. He extended his musical career by 
performing with the Sun Cities Symphony Orchestra for almost 20 years 
more, until just 5 years ago.
  Jack also managed to keep his friends and fellow faculty members on 
their toes with a mean game of tennis. Playing with legendary coaches 
like Frank Kush, Bobby Winkles and Ned Wulk did not dim his competitive 
drive to win.
  These other accomplishments might give the impression that his 
professional life took a back seat. Nothing could be further from the 
truth. Among other posts, Jack served as executive officer of the 
chemistry department for 14 years, as well as national president of the 
Society for Applied Spectroscopy.
  But as a fellow teacher, I know Jack's true love was being in the 
classroom. Every year for almost 40 years he offered summer programs to 
young students to share with them the love and excitement of chemistry 
he discovered himself as a young boy. Who wouldn't love to spend their 
summers exploring the wonders of infrared and ultraviolet absorption 
spectroscopy or modern industrial spectroscopy?
  Even today, after 55 years in the classroom, Jack maintains an office 
at the university and

[[Page 28987]]

can be found, as always, involved with students 2 to 3 days a week.
  I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations on a job well done.

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