DRI's President's Medal Awarded to Sue Wagner and Paul Fisher

Sue Wagner, a Nevada Gaming Commissioner and former lieutenant governor and state legislator, and Paul Fisher, a Boulder City inventor, industrialist, and education supporter, have been awarded the Desert Research Institute President's Medal by DRI President Stephen G. Wells. The award is the Institute's highest non-scientific honor and recognizes individuals who contribute significantly or render exceptional service to the Institute.

Wells cited Wagner's long-time commitment to DRI, when she was special assistant to three previous DRI presidents, and her establishment of two important award programs at DRI in memory of her late husband, Dr. Peter B. Wagner. Wagner was a DRI atmospheric scientist who died in the 1980 crash of an Institute research aircraft.

"Sue has given us a national award for women in atmospheric sciences as well as a brand new internal award to acknowledge outstanding work by DRI's younger scientists, something that was important to Peter Wagner in his own mentoring of our newest faculty members," Wells said. Wells noted that Wagner was instrumental in raising the awareness of DRI's capabilities within Nevada's government and business sectors, as well as in helping establish the Institute's 14-year-old Nevada Medal Award, a national scientific honor presented annually.

"Paul Fisher's long-time commitment to education, particularly in efforts to interest students in aerospace careers, and his support for the development of a strong technology sector in Nevada's economy, led to his medal award. Wells noted that for nearly half a century, Fisher has supported protection of the environment as essential for preserving world peace.

"Paul Fisher is tireless in his efforts to excite young people in math and science to prepare them for careers in support of America's space exploration program," Wells said. "He continually points to the many unexpected benefits that result from success in overcoming scientific and engineering obstacles to space exploration."

Fisher, a friend of many U.S. astronauts, has invited several of them to southern Nevada for classroom visits to inspire Nevada students with dreams of careers in space-related fields. Fisher himself is famous for inventing the Fisher Space Pen carried on missions by all U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. Fisher produces his pens at his plant in Boulder City, Nevada.