Name: Jean Amédée Hoerni

Born: September 26, 1924, in Geneva, Switzerland

Death: January 12, 1997 (Age: 73)

  • A silicon transistor pioneer, engineer, and a member of the traitorous eight.
  • He is best known for developing and inventing the planar process that allowed transistors to be created out of silicon rather than germanium. The name “Silicon Valley” refers to this silicon.

Honors and awards

  • Awarded the Edward Longstreth Medal from the Franklin Institute (1969).
  • McDowell Award (1972).