Jack Houck (1939–2013)

Abstract

With great regret the SSE recognizes the passing of one of its Dinsdale Award recipients, Jack Houck. Born George B. Houck, Jack, as he was better known to his many friends, was raised in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan where, in 1961, he received a Masters of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering degree. For more than four decades he was a researcher, theoretician, experimentalist, engineer, and analyst of anomalous phenomena. His most significant contributions to the field came with his direct contact with more than 20,000 people and with his providing them a firsthand, demonstrable experience of psychokinesis.
In 1981 Jack Houck developed the concept and protocols for psychokinesis metal bending (PKMB) parties. Rather than simple demonstrations by a talented individual who professed special skills, Jack proved that the process could be taught to anyone who was prepared to attempt it. For many participants, the PKMB experience that he provided proved to be a life-changing event. Importantly, his interests and explorations took him into many other controversial topics such as remote viewing, firewalking, spontaneous germination of seeds, EEG biofeedback, and healing with human energy.