Dr. Harry W. Mergler

CHICAGO - June 26, 2006 - On Saturday, June 24, 2006, Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) inducted Dr. Harry Winston Mergler as an Eminent Member. HKN Vice President Dr. J. David Irwin presented the certificate of induction in front of several hundred industry professionals and their guests at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

Dr. Irwin applauded Dr. Mergler and commented, "Eta Kappa Nu is proud to announce the induction of this academic giant who has made significant contributions to both the industry and humankind."

Eminent Member is the highest level of membership in the organization. It is conferred by the HKN Board of Governors upon the few whose attainments and contributions to society through leadership in engineering have resulted in significant benefits to humankind.

Dr. Mergler attended MIT from 1941 to 1943, at which time his Army Air Force reserve unit was called to active duty. After the close of World War II, he finished his undergraduate studies, took a position with NACA's Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory as an aeronautical research scientist, entered their graduate studies program at Case Institute of Technology, and completed his Ph.D. in 1955.

In 1957, he then joined the faculty of Case Institute of Technology. In 1973, he was appointed to the Leonard Case Chair in Electrical Engineering, where he served until 1989. Professor Mergler's teaching and research specialty is the digital logic design as applied to embedded control networks in machine-tool controls, aeronautical instrumentation, and industrial control processes. He is the author of the book Methods in Digital Logic Design. One hundred and fifty-one master's and forty-eight Ph.D. students have earned their degrees under Professor Mergler.

He was elected a Fellow in the IEEE in 1976 and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1980. He was awarded the IEEE's Lamme Medal in 1978, the Case Institute of Technology Gold Medal in 1979, and the IEEE's Centennial Medal in 1984. He received the Best Paper Award from the IEEE in 1979. Mergler holds 24 patents, all of which have found active industrial application. His biography is found in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, American Men of Science, and the Dictionary of International Biography.

Eric Herz, Tsuneo Nakahara, Harry Mergler, Dave Irwin	Dave Irwin presents Harry Mergler with his Eminent Member certificate
Tsuneo Nakahara, Michael Lightner (IEEE President), Dave Irwin, Harry Mergler	Tsuneo Nakahara, Dave Irwin, Harry Mergle

For more information, visit www.hkn.org or contact Lisa Reyes at +1-312-559-3325 or lisa@hkn.org.

About the Eminent Member
Eminent Member is the highest membership classification in Eta Kappa Nu. Established in 1950, the title of Eminent Member is conferred by the Board of Governors upon those select few whose attainments and contributions to society through leadership in the fields of electrical and computer engineering have resulted in significant benefits to humankind. These attainments and contributions may be in the areas of corporate management, government, education, or professional society activities. To suggest an individual be named an Eminent Member, contact Kathy Ricker, HKN administrative director, at kathy@iec.org.

About Eta Kappa Nu (HKN)
Eta Kappa Nu is a 100-year-old honor society for electrical and computer engineering students and professionals. With more than 200,000 members and approximately 200 university chapters, HKN recognizes excellence in academic accomplishments, leadership, outstanding character, and service. The International Engineering Consortium manages the headquarters function of Eta Kappa Nu. For more information, please visit www.hkn.org.

About the IEC
The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to catalyzing technology and business progress worldwide in a range of high-technology industries and their university communities. Since 1944, the IEC has provided high-quality educational opportunities for industry professionals, academics, and students.

In conjunction with industry-leading companies, the IEC has developed an extensive, free on-line educational program. The IEC conducts industry-university programs that have a substantial impact on curricula. It also conducts research and develops publications, conferences, and technological exhibits that address major opportunities and challenges of the information age.

More than 70 leading high-technology universities are IEC affiliates, and the IEC handles the affairs of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association and Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. The IEC also manages the activities of the Enterprise Communications Consortium. Visit www.iec.org .