HONORING THE LEGACY OF CHARLES F. KETTERING

On 2026-08-27, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH-4) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LEGACY OF CHARLES F. KETTERING" in the House.

HONORING THE LEGACY OF CHARLES F. KETTERING

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 136 (Thursday, August 27, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 136 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E813] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LEGACY OF CHARLES F. KETTERING ______ HON. JIM JORDAN of ohio in the house of representatives Thursday, August 27, 2026 Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend to the House the extraordinary life and contributions of Ohio's own Charles F. Kettering as we near the 150th anniversary of his birth. Charles Franklin Kettering was born on his family's farm in Loudonville on August 29, 1876. After high school, he took a teaching position at a nearby school, where his evening lectures and demonstrations on science drew sizable crowds. A 1904 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in electrical engineering, he was hired to lead the research laboratory at National Cash Register in Dayton. During his five years there, he secured 23 patents for his work on the electric cash register and other innovations. While at NCR, Kettering and a small group of colleagues (dubbed the Barn Gang) worked during evenings and weekends to develop new gadgetry and electronic equipment for automobiles. This group was incorporated in 1909 as the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, or Delco. By 1911, Kettering and his fellow engineers had developed the first practical electric self-starter for autos. Following the acquisition of Delco by General Motors in 1918, Kettering joined the team at General Motors Research Corporation, where he held the position of vice president for more than a quarter century. His work on air-cooled automobile engines, two-stroke diesel engines, fuel additives, and quick-dry automotive paint contributed richly to the development of the modern passenger vehicle. Charles Kettering's philanthropy was equally effective and noteworthy: Believing that industrial research could have practical applications in the medical field, he helped found what ultimately became the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the top- ranked cancer care facilities in the Nation. Mr. Speaker, the people of Loudonville will gather this Saturday to celebrate the accomplishments of its favorite son. On behalf of the people of Ohio's 4th Congressional District, I am proud to join in the accolades to this inventor, engineer, and philanthropist whose work revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life.