LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Nikola Tesla, posthumously, upon
the occasion of his designation for special recognition as a 2010 Induc-
tee of the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Nikola Tesla, posthumously, upon the occasion of his designation
for special recognition as a 2010 Inductee of the Long Island Technology
Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, The objective of the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame
(LITHF) is to recognize, honor and preserve the contributions, accom-
plishments, and dedication of historical figures or current leaders in
science or technology who have had, or are having, an impact on Long
Island; and
WHEREAS, LITHF adds a critical layer of enlightened philanthropy to
Long Island's economic engine; similar to the role played by venture
capitalists, the LITHF is an important bridge through which many compa-
nies, remembering their humble beginnings, give back to their community;
and
WHEREAS, Inductees to the LITHF are selected impartially from among
individual nominees submitted by corporate, research, and academic
institutions, as well as colleagues, peers, or other personal associ-
ates; and
WHEREAS, The LITHF Nomination and Awards Selection Committee then
determines the most qualified inductees according to intellectual
acumen, lifetime achievement, overall impact on the advancement of
science and technology, national prominence, contributions to Long
Island's economic development and commitment to the Long Island communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Nikola Tesla was an inventor and a mechanical and electrical
engineer; he was one of the most important contributors to the birth of
commercial electricity and is best known for his many revolutionary
developments in the field of electromagnetism in the late 19th and early
20th centuries; his patents and theoretical work formed the basis of
modern alternating current (AC) electric power systems, including the
polyphase system of electrical distribution and the AC motor, with which
he helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution; and
WHEREAS, Born on July 10, 1856, an ethnic Serb in the village of Smil-
jan, Croatian Military Frontier, Austrian Empire (today's Croatia),
Nikola Tesla was a subject of the Austrian Empire by birth and later
became an American citizen; after his demonstration of wireless communi-
cation through radio in 1894 and after being the victor in the "War of
Currents", he was widely respected as one of the greatest electrical
engineers who worked in America; and
WHEREAS, Much of Nikola Tesla's early work pioneered modern electrical
engineering and many of his discoveries were of groundbreaking impor-
tance; in the United States, his fame rivaled that of any other inventor
or scientist in history or popular culture; he died impoverished in
1943, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, The International System of Units' unit measuring magnetic
field B (also referred to as the magnetic flux density and magnetic
induction) was named in Nikola Tesla's honor at the Conference Generale
des Poids et Mesures, Paris, 1960; and

WHEREAS, Aside from his work on electromagnetism and electromechanical
engineering, Nikola Tesla contributed in varying degrees to the estab-
lishment of robotics, remote control, radar, and computer science, and
to the expansion of ballistics, nuclear physics, and theoretical phys-
ics; in 1943, the Supreme Court of the United States credited him as
being the inventor of the radio; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Nikola Tesla, posthumously, upon the occasion of his desig-
nation for special recognition as a 2010 Inductee of the Long Island
Technology Hall of Fame; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame.