Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 4-8-1982 Washington University Record, April 8, 1982 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, April 8, 1982" (1982). Washington University Record. Book 231. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/231 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington University Publications at Digital Commons@Becker. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Record by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Becker. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS Services held for Thomas, chemist, former trustee Charles Allen Thomas, chemist and inventor, corporate and civic leader and a prominent member of the WU com- munity for many years, died Monday, March 29, at his farm near Albany, Ga. Thomas, 82, had been ill for some time. Raised on a small farm in Scott County, Ky., Thomas was associated with Monsanto Co. in St. Louis for 34 years, including 24 years as a member of the board — as its president from 1951 to I960 and as chairman during I960-1965. He retired from the board in February 1970. A distinguished chemist who, during World War II, coordinated efforts to purify the element plutonium for the atomic bomb, Thomas devoted many of his later years to service to WU. First named a member of its board of trustees in 1954, he was chairman of the board from 1966 to 1977, and was named a life member in 1974. Upon his retire- ment as chairman, he was given the William Greenleaf Eliot Award. Thomas received an honorary doctor of science degree from WU in 1947. In Junior Steve Bresina, a civil engineering major, launches his hang glider from a Shcpley Hall balcony at the fourth annual Egg Drop contest March 28, during Engi- 1976, he established the Charles Allen neers Weekend. Not only did his design successfully cushion the descent of its egg passenger, it won in the categories of slowest descent and best design, netting him a cool $40. More egg drop on p. 3. Thomas Professorship of Chemistry. During his chairmanship of the WU board of trustees, he played a central role in the $70 million capital fund drive WU maintains Putnam dynasty with easy wins of the late 1960s, and was chairman of the strategy committee established in over Princeton, Harvard, Stanford 1973 to lay plans to match the $60 million Danforth Foundation Challenge For the second year in a row and "We did much better than we ever coaches must designate the three stu- Grant. the third time in six years, WU has won have done before," said Bender. "The dents they think will have the highest Of his service to WU, Chancellor the nationally prestigious William Lowell second place team had nobody in the scores for the school team. This year, William H. Danforth said: "Charlie Putnam Mathematical Competition. This top ten scorers." more than 2,000 students from 343 col- Thomas understood and appreciated victory, similar to winning last weekend's Now in its 42nd year, the William leges in North America participated. academia. He enjoyed students and NCAA Division I championship — only Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competi- In addition to being the winning faculty. He was a wise and farsighted in mathematics instead of basketball — tion was founded by the late Mrs. Put- team, WU continued its record of plac- leader of the trustees of our institution." required beating the likes of Princeton, nam. It is open to all collegiate under- ing other students among the top 100 Thomas H. Eliot, chancellor of WU Harvard and Stanford universities, which graduates. Each school may enter as scorers, with Carl Narveson placing 52nd from 1962 to 1971, said: "For my last came in second, third and fourth, re- many students as it wishes, but the continued on p. 2 five years as chancellor, Charlie Thomas spectively. was chairman of the board. He knew ex- The next six schools included the Four arts and sciences faculty actly how a board chairman can be most University of Maryland, the California continued on p. 2 Institute of Technology, the University chosen for excellence in teaching of Toronto, the University of Waterloo (Canada), Yale and Case Western Four members of the faculty of Arts The citees for teaching were selected Reserve. Schools which did not make the and Sciences will be presented with by the nine-member arts and sciences top ten this year included the University awards for "excellence in teaching" at 2 council from open nominations. Steve of Chicago, the University of California p.m. Friday, April 9, in the Ann Whit- Adams, president of the CSAS, will at Berkley, and the Massachusetts Insti- ney Olin Women's Building Lounge. preside at Friday's ceremonies. tute of Technology. The citations are presented by the Coun- Clark has been at San Diego State "We were miles ahead at the cil of Students of Arts and Sciences University since 1969. She was educated finish," announced Edward N. Wilson, (CSAS). in biochemistry and zoology at the Uni- WU associate professor of mathematics, The four are: Leonard S. Green, versity of California, at Berkeley. who coached the three-man student associate professor of psychology; Clyde Clark is the first recipient of the team with Carl M. Bender, WU profes- Ruffin, assistant professor of black CASE Professor of the Year Award. The sor of physics. "Nobody else came close studies and of performing arts; Edward judges singled her out for two profes- to our average." L. Spitznagel Jr., professor of math- sional achievements, in addition to her In this year's competition, all three ematics; and Ann Marie DiStefano, assis- impact on students. She wrote a text- members of the WU team placed indi- tant professor of education. book, Contemporary Biology, which has vidually among the top 15 scorers in the Mary E. Clark, professor of biology influenced the teaching of general bi- United States and Canada. The winning at San Diego State University, and the ology, and she also developed an inter- team was Kevin Keating, a senior from Council for Advancement and Support disciplinary course, "Guidelines for the Chicago, who placed 7th; Richard Stong, of Education (CASE) Professor of the Future," which poses ethical dilemmas a freshman from Charlottesville, Va., Year, will give an address on "Liberal of modern society for discussion. who placed 8th; and Edward Shpiz, a Arts: A Search for Meaning." Her CASE is a national organization of sophomore from Teaneck, N.J., who tied speech is cosponsored with CSAS by the university public relations, development for 14th. Student-Faculty Interaction Committee. and alumni relations professionals. Charles Allen Thomas Kevin Keating Edward Shpiz Richard Stong Study reveals blacks, older adults Putnam— continued from p. 1 are untapped volunteer force and Bard Bloom placing 95th. that occasionally are useful. The Putnam Why did WU do so well in the competition was held Dec. 5, 1981, and Who will be the volunteers of the cause they have not been directly ap- competition? "It's a combination of very the scores, graded by two panels of future? A recent study by a WU profes- proached," Gillespie said, "and because high quality students and intensive judges, were announced April 1. sor indicates that the traditional volun- the emphasis our society places upon coaching sessions held every Friday after- All three members of the winning teer workforce — white middle-class youth may lead them to believe that noon throughout the fall," said team are Arthur Holly Compton Fellows. women — are using the skills they learn they are not wanted by these agencies." Bender." The Compton Fellowships are awarded in volunteer positions to boost them- At the other end of the age spec- He and Wilson began the weekly to WU freshmen through a highly de- selves into the paid job market. trum, few young people, especially stu- coaching sessions in October, where they manding academic competition and in- Nonprofit agencies must direct dents, are involved in volunteer work. helped students work problems on past clude full tuition plus a stipend for four their volunteer programs to other groups Gillespie said most young people look exams, explored patterns, analyzed years. of people, said David F. Gillespie, for paid positions in social agencies or mathematical steps and reviewed tricks "The Compton program has associate professor of social work. work offering academic credit before brought us absolutely great students," ' 'There are a lot of groups out there choosing a volunteer position. said Wilson. "For awhile, Carl Bender that organizations haven't approached Gillespie said that corporations and I weren't sure that our coaching was yet," said Gillespie, who recently com- are also a good source of professional necessary. But the practice sessions do pleted a survey of 1300 volunteers for volunteers. help. The coaching adds perhaps five the American Red Cross St. Louis "Corporations in St. Louis, including points to the raw team score, and that chapter on Lindell Blvd. "They include Monsanto, Union Electric, Southwestern translates into the difference between senior citizens and retirees, non-whites, Bell and McDonnell Douglas, have join- first place and eighth place." students and even corporations." ed to offer a unique program of leader- The six-hour competition is divided Aided by Tony King, a WU social ship and management training seminars into two parts with a total of 12 prob- work doctoral student, Gillespie worked for managers and directors of social lems. The students are equipped only with the director of volunteers and the agencies," said Gillespie.