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Inventors Hall Of Fame To Induct Nine Members, Thursday

Sixteen New Jersey inventors and the New Jersey Technology Council, Mount Laurel, will be honored for innovative and important inventions, Thursday, Feb.15, by the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame, sponsored by NJIT.

The inventions were created and patented while their inventors lived and worked in New Jersey. Among this year's winning inventions are Colgate Total toothpaste, the "String Thing," and the portable batting cage. The New Jersey Technology Council will also be honored for advancing technology driven businesses.

The ceremony, 6-9 p.m., will take place at an awards banquet in the Hazell Center Ballroom.

Harry Roman, who chairs the 2001 Hall of Fame and other awards given out that night, says the honors fall into three main categories: The Inventors Hall of Fame, which recognizes inventions which have made extraordinary contributions to technology and human welfare; "Inventors of the Year," which recognize important pieces of work; and special awards that recognize innovative or entrepreneurial work. Roman is a senior technology consultant for Public Service Electric and Gas Company, Newark.

Hall of Fame Inductees

• Homer Z. Martin, Ph.D., (1910-1993) invented, in 1942, with three other chemical engineers at Standard Oil Development Company, formerly of Linden, which is now Exxon, a process called fluid catalytic cracking. Hailed as one of the last century's greatest inventions, this chemical engineering breakthrough, helped transform crude oil into high-octane gasoline. Other inventors on his team included Eger V. Murphree, (1898-1962), who served from 1947 to 1962 as president of Standard Oil; Charles W. Tyson, (1900-1977); and Donald L. Campbell. Historians say this invention was instrumental to the Allies' air victories in World War II. They also credit it with ushering in the age of the automobile and the development of other products from plastics to fabrics.
• Harold S. Black (1898-1983) invented a theory to improve long distance telephone service while working for Western Electric's West Street Labs, New York City, the forerunner of Bell Telephone Laboratories. His theory has recently been applied to fields such as biomechanics and bioengineering and is used for enhancing digital computers, artificial limbs and more.
• Abdul Gaffar, Ph.D., invented Colgate Total, the nation's first antibacterial toothpaste that has been applauded for its ability to help prevent the growth of plaque. Gaffar, vice president for growth technology at Colgate-Palmolive, Piscataway, has been with the company since the early 1970s.
• Arun Netravali, Ph.D., president of Lucent Technologies/Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, has led the field of digital technologies. He is known for inventing a mathematical theorem to improve the quality of broadcast video signals.
• Gerald Ash, a district manager for AT&T Labs, Middletown, invented three dynamic routing schemes to optimize telecommunications bandwidth.
• Glenn A. Reitmeier invented a compression system for delivering digital data via high-definition television. Reitmeier has worked at Sarnoff Corporation, Princeton, since 1977.

Inventor of the Year

• J. Thomas Jennings invented a plastic container called the "Tip 'N Measure" that allows fluids to be dispensed from a built-in measuring chamber.
• Philip Anderson, Ph.D., a professor of physics at Ramapo College, invented an electronic security system used worldwide.
• Jack H. Winters, Ph.D., a technology leader at AT&T Labs, Research, Middletown, pioneered the application of adaptive antenna arrays to cellular radio systems.
• The work of Jim Johnston, a technology leader at AT&T Labs, Research, Florham Park, enabled the distribution of digital music through the Internet and digital radio.

Special Awards

• David Brown, founder of Zel Products, Inc., East Brunswick, invented the "String 'N Thing," a recyclable cardboard and string device for tying newspapers into bundles for recycling.
• Fred Topinka, founder of Topinka Associates, Rochelle Park, invented the "Safety Cage," a glow-in-the-dark plastic light bulb cage which can help workers exit a construction site during a power outage or emergency.
• Wellington Stockton Titus (1872-1941) invented the portable batting cage after growing tired of chasing fouled and missed pitches.
• The New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC) will be feted for advancing the interests of technology driven businesses in New Jersey. NJTC objectives include offering companies networking opportunities, providing smaller companies with access to financing and entrepreneurial assistance, and promoting technology education. Underscoring the value of the NJTC to New Jersey's high-tech industry are the 1,081 member companies that have joined since its establishment in 1996.

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