Solomon W. Golomb (1932–2016) was a prominent American mathematician and engineer best known for his work in the fields of combinatorial mathematics and communications theory. He introduced the concept of polyominoes, which laid the groundwork for various mathematical puzzles and games, including Tetris. Golomb's research significantly contributed to advances in digital communications and coding theory, particularly in his development of shift register sequences, which are crucial in modern cryptography and error correction. A long-time professor at the University of Southern California, Golomb was widely recognized for his contributions, receiving numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science in 2013.