The beginnings of this Transactions

In July of 1951, Ben Warriner, IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Chairman (1952??1953), circulated a petition to begin the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society under the auspices of the Institute of Radio Engineers. Despite an initial lack of support from the Institute of Radio Engineers, the roots of this TRANSACTIONS were laid and grew from that small act. The first issue of this TRANSACTIONS was published in March of 1953. In the opening, T.S. Saad (Chairman, 1958-1959) stated, "... we are certain that the TRANSACTIONS will become one of the most important publications in the field of microwave theory and techniques." Those early words were prophetic. The size of this TRANSACTIONS has grown from 92 pages in the first year to over 3000 pages today and is recognized worldwide for its quality and truly international character. Each early issue featured a "Distinguished Microwave Personality" and the issue included a photograph, biography, and essay written by that person. These essays treated a wide range of topics including history, mathematics, engineering challenges, and even a plea for industrial support for universities. In honor of that tradition, and to reconnect to the origins of this TRANSACTIONS, we now reprint one of these featured essays by George C. Southworth, along with the original photograph and biography. In the essay entitled "The Challenge," Southworth expounds on the obstacles circumvented and resolved in a never-ending push to higher frequencies, exhorting his colleagues to meet the "100,000 mc" challenge, where your "new frontiers are poised temporarily."