News

Jeffrey Sellon, PE spoke at Tesla dedication

On June 20, Jeffrey Sellon, PE, electrical engineer at Western Engineering & Research Corporation (WERC) in Denver, spoke at the dedication of a bronze bust of Nikola Tesla at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Sellon is a nationally recognized expert on Nikola Tesla, who received hundreds of patents for his breakthroughs. “While Thomas Edison received more acclaim than Tesla, it was Tesla whose work led to what was named the number one engineering feat of the 20 th century, the electrification of the world,” said Sellon.

It was Tesla, not Edison, who discovered the alternating current used today. It was Tesla, not Marconi, who discovered radio. It was Tesla who discovered fluorescent lightning. It was Tesla who discovered the basics of robotry, computers, and missile science that are the foundation for today’s technology.

“Nikola Tesla was possibly the greatest discoverer the world has known since Leonardo da Vinci. Even so, he remains one of the least recognized scientists in history,” said Sellon.

Tesla had strong ties in Colorado. Near Telluride the world’s first commercial polyphase electrical power system was created by Tesla and installed by George Westinghouse. The Ames power plant is still active, and is now run by Xcel Energy. Tesla also had a laboratory in Colorado Springs (photo attached). Tesla considered his most important discoveries to be made during his time in Colorado Springs.

Return to Top