HR1099LRB097 21709 GRL 70123 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Eugene 
4Polley; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Eugene Polley is best-known for his innovation in 
6the creation of the first wireless television remote; the 
7device began as a luxury, but with the introduction of hundreds 
8of channels and viewing technologies, it has become a universal 
9necessity; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Eugene Polley was born November 29, 2015, in 
11Chicago; he was a longtime resident of Lombard and had lived 
12most recently in Glen Ellyn, before his passing at the age of 
1396 on May 20, 2012; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, At the age of 20, Eugene Polley joined the Zenith 
15Radio Company as a stock boy earning 40 cents an hour; he 
16studied at the City Colleges of Chicago and the Armour 
17Institute of Technology, but lacked the money to complete a 
18degree; still, he excelled mechanically and worked his way into 
19the engineering department at Zenith; in 1955, he invented the 
20Flash-Matic, which used visible light to remotely control a 
21television; the device could turn the set on and off and change 
22the channel; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, During Eugene Polley's 47-year career as an 
2engineer, he not only forever altered the way consumers view 
3television, but also worked for the United States military and 
4the Department of War during World War II to develop bomb fuses 
5and ship-detecting radar; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Eugene Polley and Robert Adler shared the 
71996-1997 Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for 
8"Pioneering Development of Wireless Remote Control for 
9Consumer Television"; in 2009, Mr. Polley earned the IEEE 
10Consumer Electronics Award "for contributions to the 
11technology of the wireless remote control for television and 
12other consumer electronic products"; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Eugene Polley is survived by his son, Eugene Jr., 
14and his grandson; he was preceded in death by his wife, the 
15former Blanche Wiley, and his daughter, Joan Polley; therefore, 
16be it
  
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
18NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
19we mourn the passing of Eugene Polley and recognize his 
20extensive technological contributions; and be it further
  
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
 
 
HR1099- 3 -LRB097 21709 GRL 70123 r

1presented to the family of Eugene Polley as a symbol of our 
2esteem and respect for this great man.