University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering

Ray D. Kell

[title]
To Ray D. Kell, research engineer, for his distinguished contributions toward the development of modern television.

Retired Fellow, RCA Laboratories Technical Staff, Princeton, New Jersey

  • BS, Electrical Engineering, 1926

Mr. Kell joined RCA in 1930 to direct research in the field of television cameras and associated equipment, along with the development of the first television transmitter to operate in the VHF band. Since that time, he has become one of the foremost leaders in the development of modern television equipment. More than forty patents relating to television, radio communication, and radar have been issued in his name. During World War II, he directed the development, construction, and installation of the first automatic radar fire control system for use on shipboard. He was also active in the application of television to the directing of guided missiles such as "ROC" and GB-4. Following the war, he turned his attention to color television. Under his direction, the present commercial color television system has developed.

Mr. Kell has received the Modern Pioneer Award of the National Association of Manufacturers; a certificate of commendation from the U.S. Navy; the Stuart Ballantine Medal of the Franklin Institute; the David Sarnoff Gold Medal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers; the David Sarnoff Outstanding Achievement Award in Science from RCA; and the V. K. Zworykin Television Award of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He is a fellow of the IEEE, a member of Sigma Xi, and life member of the Franklin Institute.

Current as of 1974.