I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary Arkansan, a great inventor, engineer, and scientist, who left his mark not only on my district, but on our nation’s history as well.  His name was Paul Wilbur Klipsch.

Paul Klipsch was well known for many things, but was best known for his contributions in revolutionizing the world of audio.  From a very young age, he became fascinated with acoustics and radio, and even built his own radio receiver a year before the first public radio broadcast.  That fascination would follow him the rest of his life.

His career began in 1926 after graduating from New Mexico State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, when he was employed by General Electric to work with radio.  He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, continuing research in audio frequency and efficiency.  

After serving in World War II, Paul decided to dedicate his life to building loudspeakers, determined to achieve accurate sound reproduction.  From his home in Hope, Arkansas, he spent years researching and conducting experiments, and much of his work was patented.  In his lifetime, Klipsch was granted three patents in ballistics, eight in geophysics, and twelve in acoustics.  His Heritage Line of speakers are known worldwide for their quality and accuracy that set industry standards.  In fact, I enjoy using them in my own home.   

Paul Klipsch received numerous awards during his lifetime.  He has had buildings, lecture halls, and auditoriums named in his honor.  Perhaps his most distinguished honor came in 1997, when he was inducted and enshrined in the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame joining members like Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, and the Wright Brothers.  He was recognized as a visionary for improving the quality of life for all humanity.  

The same can be said for both his professional and personal life.  An avid philanthropist, Klipsch spent his 98 years on this Earth trying to better the lives of his neighbors. He always gave credit to Divine Guidance, and invoked it frequently.  He has been described as raw, eccentric, straightforward, controversial, fascinating, whimsical, and extraordinary.  

My heart goes out to Paul’s wife of nearly 26 years, Valerie, their son, Raymond, and their two grandchildren as they deal with this difficult loss, and I am keeping all of them in my thoughts and prayers.  While he may no longer be with us, his life and legacy will be remembered for generations to come.