Roger J. Williams: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:30, 24 January 2006

Revision as of 19:59, 24 January 2006

Line 1:

Professor '''Roger John Williams''' ([[August 14]], [[1893]] – [[February 20]], [[1988]]), memberwas of thea [[National Academy of SciencesBiochemistry|biochemist]] andwho President of thenamed [[Americanfolic Chemical Societyacid]] inand discovered [[1957]].pantothenic [[Biochemistry|Biochemistacid]], anda textbookmember authorof who namedthe [[folicNational acidAcademy of Sciences]] and discoveredPresident of the [[pantothenicAmerican acidChemical Society]].

This biography was sourced with permission from the [http://neon.cm.utexas.edu/williams/briefbio.htm University of Texas website].

Line 5:

== Biography ==

Roger John Williams was born in [[OotacumundOotacamund]], [[India]], of [[United States|American]] [[missionary]] parents on [[August 14]], [[1893]]. At age 2 his family returned to the U.S., where he grew up in [[Kansas]] and [[California]]. His formal education culminated in a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] degree ([[Latin honors|Magnamagna Cumcum Laudelaude]]) from the [[University of Chicago]] in [[1919]]. He taught at the [[University of Oregon]], [[Oregon State University]], and beginning in 1940, at the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. He authored several widely used textbooks of [[organic chemistry]] and [[biochemistry]]. He became [[Emeritus|Emeritus Professor]] of [[Chemistry]] in [[1971]] and retired that position in [[1986]] at age 92.

While studying the [[nutrition]] of [[yeast]] [[cell (biology)|cells]] he discovered, isolated and made possible the [[synthesis]] of [[pantothenic acid]], a universal [[vitamin|B-vitamin]] needed by every cell in the human body. Later he concentrated [[folic acid]], another B-vitamin, and gave it its name.

At the University of Texas he founded and directed the [[Clayton Foundation]] Biochemical Institute from [[1940]] to [[1963]] (now called the Biochemical Institute), when he retired from that position. More vitamins and their variants were discovered in this [[laboratory]] than in any other laboratory in the world.

Following his retirement from the Directorship of the Institute, he concentrated on human nutrition as his central field of interest, writing several widely read books. After his 80th birthday he continued to be actively involved, writing and editing several important books dealing with aspects of human nutrition and education.

Two of his outstanding books at his 1963 retirement as Director were The Human Frontier (Harcourt Brace, 1946) and Biochemical Individuality: The Basis for the Genetotrophic Concept (John Wiley & Sons, 1956; University of Texas Press, 1969 to 1979; Keats Publishing, 1998). The latter book was translated into Russian, Italian and Polish.

Professor Williams was a member of the [[National Academy of Sciences]] and was President of the [[American Chemical Society]] in [[1957]]. He received [[honorary degree|honorary]] [[Doctor of Science|D.Sc]]. degrees from [[Columbia University]], [[Oregon State University]] and [[University of Redlands]], his [[Almaalma Matermater]]. In [[1941]], for his discovery of pantothenic acid, he received the [[Mead Johnson Award]] of the [[American Institute of Nutrition]] and the [[Chandler Medal]] of Columbia University. In [[1972]] he served as a member of [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon's]] Advisory Panel on [[Heart Disease]].

Following his retirement from the Directorship of the Institute, he concentrated on human nutrition as his central field of interest. His books, [[Alcoholism]]: The Nutritional Approach (Univ. of Texas Press, 1959 to 1978), Nutrition in a Nutshell (1962, Doubleday and Dolphin) and Nutrition Against Disease: Environmental Prevention (Pitman 1971, Bantam Books, 1973) were widely read. After his 80th birthday he continued to be actively involved, writing and editing several important books dealing with aspects of human nutrition and education. These include Physicians' Handbook of Nutritional Science (C.C. Thomas, 1975), The Wonderful World Within You: Your Inner Nutritional Environment (Bantam Books, 1977, Bio-Communications Press 1987-1998), The Prevention of Alcoholism Through Nutrition (Bantam Books, 1981) and Rethinking Education: The Coming Age of Enlightenment (Philosophical Library, 1986).

Williams married Hazel Elizabeth Wood in [[1916]]; they raised three children. After Hazel's death in [[1952]] he married Mabel Phyllis Hobson the next year. He was an avid [[Fishing#Recreational_fishing|fisher]], [[golf|golfer]], [[hiking|walker]] and [[Fan (aficionado)|fan]] of [[University of Texas]] [[athletics]]. He died of [[pneumonia]] in an Austin nursing home onat [[February 20]], [[1988]] (age 94). Heand is buried in Austin Memorial Park. His papers are in the University of Texas archives.

Professor Williams was a member of the [[National Academy of Sciences]] and was President of the [[American Chemical Society]] in [[1957]]. He received [[honorary degree|honorary]] [[Doctor of Science|D.Sc]]. degrees from [[Columbia University]], [[Oregon State University]] and [[University of Redlands]], his [[Alma Mater]]. In [[1941]], for his discovery of pantothenic acid, he received the [[Mead Johnson Award]] of the [[American Institute of Nutrition]] and the [[Chandler Medal]] of Columbia University. In [[1972]] he served as a member of [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon's]] Advisory Panel on [[Heart Disease]].

==Publications==

Williams married Hazel Elizabeth Wood in [[1916]]; they raised three children. After Hazel's death in [[1952]] he married Mabel Phyllis Hobson the next year. He was an avid [[Fishing#Recreational_fishing|fisher]], [[golf|golfer]], [[hiking|walker]] and [[Fan (aficionado)|fan]] of [[University of Texas]] [[athletics]]. He died of [[pneumonia]] in an Austin nursing home on [[February 20]], [[1988]] (age 94). He is buried in Austin Memorial Park. His papers are in the University of Texas archives.

* ''The Human Frontier'' (Harcourt Brace, 1946)

Two of his outstanding books at his 1963 retirement as Director were The Human Frontier (Harcourt Brace, 1946) and* ''Biochemical Individuality: The Basis for the Genetotrophic Concept'' (John Wiley & Sons, 1956; University of Texas Press, 1969 to 1979; Keats Publishing, 1998). The latter book was(also translated into Russian, Italian and Polish.)

* ''Alcoholism: The Nutritional Approach'' (Univ. of Texas Press, 1959 to 1978)

* ''Nutrition in a Nutshell'' (1962, Doubleday and Dolphin)

* ''Nutrition Against Disease: Environmental Prevention'' (Pitman 1971, Bantam Books, 1973)

* ''Physicians' Handbook of Nutritional Science'' (C.C. Thomas, 1975)

* ''The Wonderful World Within You: Your Inner Nutritional Environment'' (Bantam Books, 1977, Bio-Communications Press 1987-1998)

* ''The Prevention of Alcoholism Through Nutrition'' (Bantam Books, 1981)

* ''Rethinking Education: The Coming Age of Enlightenment'' (Philosophical Library, 1986).

== External links ==