Marco man gets National Medal of Technology

The 83-year-old Marco Island resident was still a bit fazed, having reached the pinnacle -- the highest American science honor -- along with his colleague, John Mooney, for their invention: the three-way catalytic converter.

"He said it was a wonderful contribution, or words to that effect," Keith said.

Bush spoke for about five minutes in the White House East Room, just to the left of the main doors of the building. He praised the eight winners who "represent the finest qualities of their professions and the finest qualities of our country."

"The medals we confer today are a way of expressing our own gratitude to some of the most gifted and visionary men and women in America," Bush told the more than 100 friends, family and scientific community leaders. "The men and women are helping to enhance the nation's health and economic prosperity."

After the president spoke, each winner was announced and walked up to the podium. Mooney helped Keith up to the stage, where the two shook hands with the president and shared a few words.

"It was a warm feeling, which I didn't expect," he said. "The president, the way he handled himself, the way he looked after me. He said, 'Be careful when you're going down those steps.'"

His two daughters, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter met him in Washington for Thursday's ceremony, which was followed by a reception and a dinner at the National Press Club. A breakfast with Commerce Secretary Don Evans and a black-tie celebration are scheduled for today.

Keith and Mooney are jointly responsible for the converter, a pollution-control device for an automobile exhaust. It cuts down on emissions of carbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

The two took four decades to create what is recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers as one of the 10 most important inventions in the history of the automobile.

Keith, a Marco resident since 1982, dedicated his award to his family, who supported him when he worked 70- to 80-hour weeks from the start of his career as a Sinclair Oil chemist in 1943 until he stepped down as executive vice president of Engelhard Industries in 1985.

His 34-year-old grandson, Len Hardesty, said some of his earliest memories are of his grandfather keeping long hours but that the family supported him because of the work he was doing.

"We were very understanding that without his devotion to this technology, the world would not have the benefit of clean air and would have significant pollution," said Hardesty, an attorney in Randolph, N.J. "The world is a better place because of his achievements."

Keith has 99 U.S. patents and 300 foreign patents, primarily dealing with catalytic compositions and processing. Keith also has received several awards for his work, most recently the Walter Ahlstrom Prize from the Finnish Academy of Science for significant technological achievements.

But none of them match the presidential award, he said.

"I never aspired to anything like this," Keith said.