Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-04-01 / 4. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD DR. JULIUS P. MOLNÁR (1916-1973) Julius P. Molnár, Executive Vice President of Bell Laboratories and a member of the Board of Directors of Bell Labs and the Sandia Corporation, died Jan. 11, at Overlook Hospital, Summit, N. J. He was 56 years old. Dr. Molnár and his family lived at 84 Countryside Drive, Summit, N. J. Dr. Julius P. Molnár, the youngest of four children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Molnár, was born in Detroit, Michigan, attended public schools in Toledo, Ohio. In 1937, he received his A.B. degree from Oberlin College, and his Ph.D. in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940. A few years ago Oberlin College, his Alma Mater, honored him with an Honorary Doctor’s Degree. Dr. Molnár began his illustrious and distinguished career with the National Defense Research Committee and later worked for the Gulf Research and Development Company. He joined the technical staff of Bell Labs in 1945 and was initially concerned with research in physical electronics and the development of microwave tubes. In 1955, he was appointed Director of Electron Tube Development and in 1957, he became Director of Military Systems Development. Dr. Molnár became President of Sandia Corporation and a Vice President of the Western Electric Company in 1958. He returned to Bell Labs in 1960 as Executive Vice President. As an inventor and co-inventor, Dr. Molnár holds patents in the fields of high frequency electron tubes and oscillators and is author of many technical papers. In 1967, he was named to the Committee of Science and Technology of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A Fellow of IEEE and the American Physical Society, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1969 for his technical and managerial leadership in the development of large communications systems. He is also a member of the American Optical Society. In 1971, Dr. Molnár received the distinguished George Washington Award of the American Hungarian Studies Foundation, which recognizes contributions to research, human knowledge, the arts, and understanding among men and nations. Commenting on Dr. Molnar’s career with Bell Labs, James B. Fisk, President of Bell Labs, said, “After he returned from the presidency of Sandia, Julius Molnár was the principal architect of our systems development programs. At the same time, he made significant contributions across the whole range of Bell Labs activities.” Dr. Fisk added: “A man of great talent, of unmatched energy and drive, a perfectionist — he was totally dedicated to Bell Labs. For the numerous accomplishments that can be attributed to Bell Labs in this past decade, a large share of the credit belongs directly to Julius Molnár.” John D. deButts, Chairman of the Board of AT&T said, “The passing of Julius Molnár is deeply regretted by all of us in the Bell System who admired and respected him so much. His contribution to the technical excellence of our business and to the advancement of communications science was unsurpassed — he was a real friend. He will be sorely missed.” Citing the contributions Dr. Molnár made to the Defense Department, John S. Foster, Jr., former Director of Defense Research and Engineering, U.S. Department of Defense, said, “For 15 years he served ably on work of great importance to the Atomic Energy Commission and to the Department of Defense. His passing is a loss to the United States and to all of us who have worked with him.” Alfred D. Starbird, Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering (Lt. General, U.S. Army, retired), noted that “Since 1958, we, in Defense were fortunate to work closely with Dr. Molnár on projects of great importance to the Nation. As President of Sandia Corporation, he strengthened its technical and operational functions in a critical period. He made significant contributions to BTL’s design and development of the Defense Automated Voice Switching Network and also guided the development of the SAFEGUARD ABM System. Dr. Molnar’s contributions to the defense and security of our country were most impressive.” Dr. Molnár, as a child and youth, was a member of Calvin United Church of Christ (Magyar Reformed Church) of Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Molnár is survived by his widow, the former Margaret Andrews, a son, Dr. Peter Molnár, Ph.D. in Geo-Physics, University of California, who will begin teaching in the Graduate School of Massachusetts Institute of Technology next fall. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Molnár, Bethesda, Maryland; by his sisters Elizabeth (Washington, D.C.) and Irene (Bethesda, Md.) and their husbands; brother, Dr. George Molnár, a Medical Research Scientist with the Veterans Administration at the Medical School in Little Rock, Ark. and his family. Contributions may be sent to the “J.P. Molnár Scholarship Fund, Oberlin, College,” Oberlin, Ohio 44074, David W. Clark, Administrator. As we honor the memory, the life, the greatness and the achievements of Dr. Julius P. Molnár, a most distinguished son of American-Hungarian parents, may we also acknowledge, esteem and honor his scientific contributions he bestowed upon his Nation, his associates, and upon all of us of American-Hungarian heritage.
