HR1099 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1099 LRB097 21709 GRL 70123 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Eugene Polley; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Polley is best-known for his innovation in the creation of the first wireless television remote; the device began as a luxury, but with the introduction of hundreds of channels and viewing technologies, it has become a universal necessity; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Polley was born November 29, 2015, in Chicago; he was a longtime resident of Lombard and had lived most recently in Glen Ellyn, before his passing at the age of 96 on May 20, 2012; and

WHEREAS, At the age of 20, Eugene Polley joined the Zenith Radio Company as a stock boy earning 40 cents an hour; he studied at the City Colleges of Chicago and the Armour Institute of Technology, but lacked the money to complete a degree; still, he excelled mechanically and worked his way into the engineering department at Zenith; in 1955, he invented the Flash-Matic, which used visible light to remotely control a television; the device could turn the set on and off and change the channel; and

WHEREAS, During Eugene Polley's 47-year career as an engineer, he not only forever altered the way consumers view television, but also worked for the United States military and the Department of War during World War II to develop bomb fuses and ship-detecting radar; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Polley and Robert Adler shared the 1996-1997 Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for "Pioneering Development of Wireless Remote Control for Consumer Television"; in 2009, Mr. Polley earned the IEEE Consumer Electronics Award "for contributions to the technology of the wireless remote control for television and other consumer electronic products"; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Polley is survived by his son, Eugene Jr., and his grandson; he was preceded in death by his wife, the former Blanche Wiley, and his daughter, Joan Polley; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Eugene Polley and recognize his extensive technological contributions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Eugene Polley as a symbol of our esteem and respect for this great man.