Mervin Kelly

Mervin J. Kelly

Mervin Joe Kelly (February 14, 1895 Princeton, Missouri – March 18, 1971) was an American physicist and engineer, and president of Bell Labs from 1951 to 1959.[1] His parents were Joseph Fenimore and Mary Etta (Evans) Kelly. He married Katherine Milsted in 1915.

Life

Mervin Kelly received his B.S. in Physics from the Missouri School of Mines (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology) in 1914, his M.S. degree in Mathematics from University of Kentucky in 1915, and his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1918[2]. His PhD advisor was Robert A. Millikan. He worked at Western Electric Company, from 1918 to 1925.[3] He was a long time researcher at Bell Labs; he was Director of Research for 1936–1944, Executive Vice-President for 1944–1951, and President for 1951–1959. He formed the research group which developed the transistor, led by William Shockley.[4][5]

In 1961, he advised NASA Administrator James E. Webb.[6]

His work for the World War II effort was classified. He was asked several times to take government positions, but always refused.

He traveled overseas to Europe to promote the work Bell Labs was doing. He had a regimented day, that began with tulip gardening at 5 am, having his driver drive at top speed to work, and after work reading until 12. After he retired, he worked for IBM as a consultant.[7]

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Kelly became a fellow of American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) in 1931, a fellow of Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) in 1938, and a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 1935. (AIEE and IRE merged to form the IEEE.) He became a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1945 and received the Presidential Certificate of Merit in 1947. He was recognized as an Eminent Member by Eta Kappa Nu in 1954. The Mervin J. Kelly Award in Telecommunication was instituted in 1960 by AIEE. Mervin Kelly was the first recipient. The award was given by AIEE and IEEE during 1960–1975.


Other awards include:

References

  1. ↑ "Bell Labs Presidents: Mervin J. Kelly". Bell-labs.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  2. ↑ "Mervin Joe Kelly" (PDF). National Academy of Sciences. 1975. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
  3. ↑ "UK Alumni Association - Mervin Joe Kelly". Ukalumni.net. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  4. ↑ "IEEE-USA Today's Engineer". Todaysengineer.org. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  5. ↑ Ernest Braun (21 October 1982). Revolution in Miniature: The History and Impact of Semiconductor Electronics. Cambridge University Press. pp. 226–. ISBN 978-0-521-28903-0.
  6. ↑ "Kelly, Mervin". Astronautix.com. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  7. ↑ Gertner, Jon (2012). The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation. Penguin Group US. ISBN 978-1-101-56108-9.

Sources

  • Jon Gertner (15 March 2012). The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation. Penguin Group US. ISBN 978-1-101-56108-9.
  • Frederick Seitz (January 2007). A Selection of Highlights from the History of the National Academy of Sciences, 1863-2005. University Press of America. pp. 61–. ISBN 978-0-7618-3587-5.
  • Bowen E G (1 January 1998). Radar Days. CRC Press. pp. 167–. ISBN 978-0-7503-0586-0.
  • David Zimmerman; Sir Henry Thomas Tizard (1996). Top Secret Exchange: The Tizard Mission and the Scientific War. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 140–. ISBN 978-0-7735-6597-5.
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