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Eugene Polley Obituary
Just ask anyone who's lost a remote.
Polley died of natural causes Sunday at a suburban Chicago hospital, said Zenith Electronics spokesman John Taylor. The former Zenith engineer was 96.
In 1955, if you wanted to switch TV channels from "Arthur Godfrey" to "Father Knows Best," you got up from your chair, walked across the room and turned a knob. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.
Or you could buy a new Zenith television with Flash-Matic tuning. The TV came with a green ray gun-shaped contraption with a red trigger. The advertising promised "TV miracles." The "flash tuner" was "Absolutely harmless to humans!" Most intriguing of all: "You can even shut off annoying commercials while the picture remains on the screen."
Polley was proud of his invention even late in life, Taylor said. He showed visitors at his assisted-living apartment his original Flash-Matic and how it had evolved into the technology of today. "He was a proud owner of a flat-screen TV and modern remote," Taylor said. "He always kept his original remote control with him."
Polley's Flash-Matic pointed a beam of light at photo cells in the corners of the television screen. Each corner activated a different function, turning the picture and sound off and on, and changing the channels.
Chicago native Polley and fellow Zenith engineer Robert Adler were honored in 1997 with an Emmy for their work in pioneering TV remotes. In 2009, he received the Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award from the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers.
Beyond keeping TV viewers pinned to their chairs, Polley's invention unchained technology from mechanical knobs and levers , opening vast possibilities, said Richard Doherty, CEO of suburban New York-based technology assessment and market research company Envisioneering.
"Without his idea you might not have gotten to the Internet," Doherty said. "It allowed you to go beyond the physical dial. It set the pace for dozens for follow-on inventions that go beyond the physical."
During his 47-year career as an engineer, Polley earned 18 U.S. patents. At Zenith, he worked his way up from the stockroom, according to a biography from Lincolnshire, Ill.-based LG Electronics, which owns Zenith. Polley also worked on radar advances for the U.S. Department of Defense during World War II. He helped develop the push-button radio for automobiles and the video disk, a forerunner of today's DVD.
Polley's invention made life easier - perhaps too easy - for a generation of children.
"In my house, the remote control was named Rick," said Doherty. "'Rick, change it to Channel 7. Rick, change it to Channel 2. Rick, go back to the ballgame.' It kept me fitter as a kid."
CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated Press
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Memories and Condolences
for Eugene Polley
31 Entries
May 29, 2012
Condolences to Gene Polley's family. Gene and his daughter Joan occasionally had dinner with John and Ceil Seifner and my parents, Elmer and Elva Osborn back when all the "guys" were still working for Zenith. Carolyn Osborn Ingle
May 27, 2012
My sympathies to the Polley family. Thanks to Eugene Polley we have one the greatest inventions of our time. I'm sure he will be missed by his family and coleagues. May God of tender mercies give them comfort and peace. 2Cor. 1:2,3
Analisa
May 24, 2012
My condolences go out to the family and friends of Eugene Polley. Just before his passing my husband and I were talking about how we didnt know who invented the remote. Its nice to place a face and name to something that we use every day. Thank you very much Mr Polley... : )
La'Shell & Billy Seeley & Williams Family
May 24, 2012
Thanks for your inventions. May God continue to bless your family in the time of sorrow.
Beth
May 24, 2012
My condolences to the Polley family. May the hope of Paradise with the prospect of living forever bring peace and comfort to you.
Joann B
May 23, 2012
thank you for retiring my brothers and I as the remote control for our parents. The remote is truly a friend to many of us. My sympathy is with those he leaves behind. May God's word comfort you. Jo Ann B. Cleveland, OH
Willard R & Joyce Smith III
May 23, 2012
Thank you, Gene.My wife, Joyce, and I will miss your creative thinking, inventing, and conversations. It was a true Honor to have you in my College of DuPage jewelry classes with your daughter Joan back in the 1980's. Until I met you I didn't know the cute little red and green flashlight I'd bought was really the First Remote until you saw it in my art studio. I was happy to relinguish it to you. And, it was a pleasure to meet with you a couple of times at your clean and airy apartment, and find you, in your 90's were still inventing....... Time will be passing Gene's "Great Accomplishments' History" through generations of family..... God Bless you all! ....I found out about Gene's death too late to attend his funeral. I would have liked to meet the rest of his family. (As in our 80's habitual TV watchers, we really appreciate his inventive mind.!) Our sympathies to all...
Jones Family
May 23, 2012
Our sincere sympathy to the Polley family. May your memoriies bring you comfort and strength during this difficult time. Ps 55:22
Beth Tuttle
May 23, 2012
thanks so much for the remote control my great-grandfather would have love it every time I use my remote I will know who made it possiable for the televison of the world Rest In Peace
C.S
May 23, 2012
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Cathy Dombkowski
May 23, 2012
Thank You.God Bless You and your family always.
May 23, 2012
To the family of Eugene Polley I send my condolences. Thank You for your invention. The Remote Control, along with the Garage Door opener, and TV dinners make my life much easier. Bless You, Clarence Wayne
Rev. Debra Moton Brown
May 23, 2012
To the family of Eugee Polley: the gift that he gave to the world will keep his light shining forever. The light in your hearts of Eugene will never grow dim. Thanks Mr. Polley for proving to my father that chilldren were not born to be human remote controls. The peace and blessings of God be with you all.
Esperanza Sifuentez
May 23, 2012
Wow what a life changer he was or maybe I should say tv changer. I wonder if they have any religion stations in heaven. I hope he has had full control of where his soul would spend eternity. God Bless.
May 23, 2012
To the family of EUGEHE POLLEY I send my heartfelt condolences in the death of your beloved family member.During these difficult times I hope you draw comfort from the GOD of comfort.ISAIAH 61,1,2.
sincerely
Ms Carruth
May 23, 2012
God Bless
Paul S. Rodriguez
May 23, 2012
Thank you Gene, you were an electronic pioneer and innovator, who made my job easier at CBS in Chicago, we had hundreds of Zenith televisions...
Rest in Peace...
Cheryl Bean
May 23, 2012
Thank you Mr. Polley for your fantastic invention. You have made my life easier especially with the million channels I now have at the push of the remote. Prayers for your family, friends and fans the world over.
May 23, 2012
To the the family of Eugene Polley - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.
May 22, 2012
You changed my life. Thank you. God Bless You. Joe (Alpharetta, Georgia).
Hope
May 22, 2012
My husband truly thank you.
May 22, 2012
GOD BLESS YOU AND THANKS!!! MY NAME IS LEGION!!Sophie from Arlington,VA
Eva Marie Purnia
May 22, 2012
R.I.P Mr.Polley! Thank-You for inventing the remote..In our home theres control issues over who gets the remote!( im sure every home goes through this..) A remote is a Mans best friend of today besides beer!lol Women have learned to do more on their own! hahaha..Sincere condolences to your Family! Thank-You for all you have done!
Henryk Zaleski
May 22, 2012
For all the times I didn't have to get up to change the channel Mr. Polley, thank you and rest in peace.
May 22, 2012
Thank You Mr. Polley. I love the feature of the remote control to silence the obnoxious advertisements....you made TV more bearable.
Athena
May 22, 2012
I wondered about this because on the last episode of "Mad Men" they mentioned a remote, and I thought for sure they made a mistake.
Scott Chamberland
May 22, 2012
Rest in Peace
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