Robert H. Weitbrecht Robert H. Weitbrecht was born on April 11, 1920 in Orange, California. He was born deaf. His mother started teaching him to read lips. In the beginning Weitbrecht went to school with other deaf children. He learned to read and to speak. Picture Courtesy of galeon.com

Robert H. Weitbrecht Weitbrecht liked science because his teacher took him to factories and places where they packaged food. He was interested in the machines there. When he went to public school the other children were mean to him because he was deaf. In high school Weitbrecht became very interested in astronomy. He built his own telescope and won a prize called the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award.

Robert H. Weitbrecht He went to college at Santa Ana Junior College. After that he went to the University of California at Berkley. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in astronomy. Then he went to school at the University of Chicago and graduated with a masters degree in astronomy. He did not use an interpreter. His friend gave him notes from class.

Robert H. Weitbrecht While he was in college he had several jobs. He worked as a physiist at the Radiation Laboratory at the University of California. Then he worked as an electronics scientist at the U.S. Naval Air Missile Test Center. He was part of the Manhattan Project. He earned the U.S. Navys Superior Accomplishment Award while he worked there. He helped create the first worldwide radio communication (TTY) to relay messages around the world.

Robert H. Weitbrecht He created a camera that would automatically focus on the stars. He went into business with two other deaf men. One of them was James C. Marsters. Their business was called the Applied Communication Corporation. They worked to create the Phonetype Acoustic Coupler. This was a phone for deaf people. It is now called the TTY. Weitbrecht was hit by a car and died on May 19, 1983

Robert H. Weitbrecht Honors Presidents Committee on Employment of the Handicapped Laurent Clerc Award Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf Award Honors Doctor of Science degree from Gallaudet Certificate of Achievement award from Johns Hopkins University Honorary member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. Creative Communication