---------- Martha J.B. Thomas, former director of technical services at GTE Electrical Products Group in Danvers, Mass., has been named the 1991 New England Inventor by the Museum of Science in Boston. The award is given annually to an individual whose application of science and technology, creativity, and independent thought has positively impacted society. Thomas received a plaque commemorating the honor at a February 7 reception that began the 13th annual Inventors Weekend Exhibition at the museum.
Thomas's primary area of research was fluorescent lighting. She tested various materials for their capacity to fluoresce, developed products, and set up pilot plants. Thomas holds 24 patents for her lighting inventions, ranging from actual lighting technology to improvements in lamp manufacturing methods. Thomas, who retired last year, began working in the chemistry lab at Sylvania Electric Products, now a division of GTE, in 1945, just prior to the end of World War ...
