Fraternity-Testvériség, 1958 (36. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)

1958-02-01 / 2. szám

4

FRATERNITY

FROM BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN

UNITED STATES GAINS NEW SCIENTIST-CITIZENS FROM HUNGARY

(Reprinted from the "Federalist", periodical of the George Washington University, Washington, D. C. — Spring, 1958)

A warm response to an iffy conversation 10 years ago resulted in a Government contract which produced dramatic results.

This was contract NORD 9951. It led to the naturalization of five top-flight scientist.

They are:

Dr. Zoltán Bay, project leader, Radiation Physics Laboratory, National Bureau of Standards.

Dr. John Faragó, senior research chemist with the Experimental Station of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company in Wilmington, Del.

Dr. Leslie S. G. Kovasznay, professor of aeronautics at The Johns

Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

Dr. George Papp, head of the Applied Physics Laboratory, Research Department, Farnsworth Electronics Company, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Prof. Charles Pulvari, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Catholic University of America.

A sixth scientist, Dr. Imre F. Patai, came to the University in March 1947, later was on the staff of Temple University and was associated with the Bartol Foundation in Swarthmore, Pa., at the time of his death in January 1949. He had been widely known for research and development of electron tubes for radio and television. Dr. Patai is survived by his

wife, Ági Jámbor, a concert pianist who now teaches at Peabody Conservatory in Philadelphia. She also occasionally appears as concert artist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington.

Contract NORD and the vision of those who planned it has stood for more than these names and titles.

It meant hopes that led to intrigue and escape.

It meant valuable basic research done on American soil. It also has meant superior citizens working for freedom.

In 1947 University Dean Benjamin D. Van Evera had a confidential talk with a Navy representative.

Dean Van Evera was intrigued by the vision expressed in the conversation that followed.

He made an appointment with University President Cloyd H. Marvin.

“If”, said the dean, “the Navy can secure the services of some outstanding Hungarian scientists, can we accept a contract to bring them to America and put them to work?”

“If”, said the University president, “we can help. Yes, of course, we’ll do it.”