III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 200 

Honoring the life of Nobel Laureate Jack St. Clair Kilby, inventor of the 

integrated circuit and innovative leader in the Information Age. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 18, 2005 

Mr. CORNYN submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life of Nobel Laureate Jack St. Clair Kilby, 

inventor of the integrated circuit and innovative leader 

in the Information Age. 

Whereas in July 1958, Mr. Kilby, as a young engineer, resolved a long-standing engineering problem, known as the 

‘‘tyranny of numbers’’, which prevented engineers from 

simply and reliably interconnecting electronic components 

to form circuits by developing the first working integrated circuit; 

Whereas on September 12, 1958, Mr. Kilby demonstrated the 

first working integrated circuit for his colleagues at 

Texas Instruments, Inc. in Dallas, Texas; 

Whereas the resulting integrated circuit contributed to national defense by facilitating the development of the Minuteman Missile and other programs; 
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•SRES 200 ATS

Whereas the integrated circuit was central to creating the 

modern computer and communications industries; 

Whereas the creation of the integrated circuit has benefitted 

the people of Texas by spurring the economy of the State 

with strong semiconductor and communications sectors 

and has enabled the integrated circuit industry to enjoy 

phenomenal growth from $29,000,000,000 annually in 

1961 to nearly $1,150,000,000,000 in 2005; 

Whereas on October 10, 2000, 42 years after demonstrating 

the first integrated circuit, Mr. Kilby shared the 2000 

Nobel Prize in Physics for his part in the invention of the 

integrated circuit; 

Whereas the integrated circuit, known today as the 

microchip, was the first chip of its kind, drove the technological growth of the Information Age, permitted both 

the rapid evolution and the miniaturization of technological products, and provided a foundation for important 

advances in science and medicine that are saving and enriching lives around the world; 

Whereas Mr. Kilby further advanced technological progress 

by inventing more than 60 additional patented items, including the hand-held calculator and the thermal printer; 

Whereas Mr. Kilby retired from Texas Instruments, Inc. 

after 25 years of dedicated service but maintained his 

presence at the company as a source of inspiration to 

generations of young engineers until his death on June 

20, 2005; 

Whereas Mr. Kilby committed himself to education, serving 

as a Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering at 

Texas A&M University from 1978 to 1984, sharing with 

students the breadth of his knowledge and expertise; 
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•SRES 200 ATS

Whereas Mr. Kilby is 1 of only 13 individuals to receive both 

the National Medal of Science and National Medal of 

Technology, the most prestigious awards of the Federal 

Government for technical achievement; 

Whereas the National Academy of Engineering, an independent nonprofit institution that advises the Federal 

Government on engineering and technology issues, awarded Mr. Kilby the 1989 Charles Stark Draper Prize, 1 of 

the preeminent awards for engineering achievement in 

the world; 

Whereas the Inamori Foundation, a charitable institution in 

Japan dedicated to promoting international understanding by honoring individuals who have contributed to 

scientific progress, culture, and human betterment, bestowed upon Mr. Kilby the 1993 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology to recognize his contributions to humanity and society; 

Whereas Mr. Kilby inspired the creation of the awards named 

after him, the Kilby International Awards, which honor 

unsung heroes and heroines who make significant contributions to society through science, technology, innovation, invention, and education; 

Whereas Mr. Kilby was inducted into the National Inventors 

Hall of Fame, established in 1973 by the Patent and 

Trademark Office of the Department of Commerce and 

the National Council of Intellectual Property Associations, alongside other great inventors in United States 

history; 

Whereas Mr. Kilby, a member of the ‘‘Greatest Generation’’, 

served the United States in World War II as a member 

of the United States Army; 
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Whereas Mr. Kilby will be remembered not only as a great 

technological innovator, but also as a loving husband, 

dedicated father, and devoted grandfather; and 

Whereas Mr. Kilby’s invention of the integrated circuit revolutionized nearly all aspects of modern life, has made 

technology more affordable and more accessible to the 

world, and will continue to exert tremendous influence on 

the development of technology in the 21st century: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep 

3 regret the announcement of the death of Nobel Lau4 reate Jack St. Clair Kilby; 

5 (2) commends Mr. Kilby for his pioneering 

6 work in the fields of engineering and electronics, 

7 which laid the foundation for the technological ad8 vances of the 20th and 21st centuries; and 

9 (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to trans10 mit 1 enrolled copy of this resolution to Mr. Kilby’s 

11 family. 

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