U.S. Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), one of American metrication's best friends in the Congress, is retiring from his seat.

One of the science community's own, US Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), is retiring from Congress this year. Recognized widely as "Mr Science" and the "smartest" Member of Congress, Ehlers was the first research physicist to serve in Congress and has been a tireless champion of science in this nation.

"Either you're a nerd, or you work for one" is one of Ehlers's favorite sayings. He is also fond of pointing to his pocket protector with pride. Ehlers received his undergraduate degree in physics and his PhD in nuclear physics from the University of California, Berkeley. After six years on the faculty at Berkeley, he moved to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he taught physics for 16 years and became department chair.