A Rutgers greatest generation grad, Merck & penicillin story

[srru86]

This Rutgers PhD might not be the standard WWII story of service but interesting and important nonetheless.
Columbus Journal Courier
103-year-old ex-chemist to be honored for work on penicillin

 

[e5fdny]

As a Merck stockholder I can think of another Rutgers alum who might be interested in this story...

@RU848789

 

[RU848789]

This Rutgers PhD might not be the standard WWII story of service but interesting and important nonetheless.
Columbus Journal Courier
103-year-old ex-chemist to be honored for work on penicillin

Great story. Have read a lot about the early days of penicillin production, since Merck was heavily involved, especially in making enough in 1942 from the Rahway pilot plant to treat the first 10 or so patients, proving that the drug was a life saver. But had never heard the Walton story. Here is a more detailed article on the history of penicillin and its scale-up and production processes, which were truly seminal moments in the chemical/biochemical engineering profession, given the importance of the drug for the WWII effort.

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/flemingpenicillin.html

 

[e5fdny]

The co-operative efforts of American chemists, chemical engineers, microbiologists, mycologists, government agencies, and chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers were equal to the challenge posed by Howard Florey and Norman Heatley in 1941. As Florey observed in 1949, "too high a tribute cannot be paid to the enterprise and energy with which the American manufacturing firms tackled the large-scale production of the drug. Had it not been for their efforts there would certainly not have been sufficient penicillin by D-Day in Normandy in 1944 to treat all severe casualties, both British and American."

You mattered, Dr. Walton. You mattered. And thank you for your SERVICE.

Love hearing about a Loyal Son like this.