Gortner, Ross Aiken

Ross Aiken Gortner came to the University of Minnesota in 1914 as Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry but transferred to the Division of Biochemistry in 1917. He contributed more than 300 papers to scientific journals in addition to writing several books. While his first publications were in organic chemistry, he began publishing in biochemistry in 1908. Gortner was active in professional organizations, an enthusiastic academic advisor mentoring 130 Ph. D.s, and the recipient of various awards, including the Osborne Medal from the American Assn. of Cereal Chemists, in 1942. The University of Minnesota Gortner Laboratory of Biochemistry was named in his honor.

Ross Aiken Gortner was born near O'Neill, Nebraska on March 20, 1885. He entered the preparatory school of Nebraska Wesleyan University at Lincoln, at the age of 17. Here he was educated and guided by chemistry Professor F. J. Alway. He received a B.S. degree from Wesleyan University in 1907, an M.A. degree from the University of Toronto in 1908, and a Ph.D. degree in 1909 from Columbia University.

Dr. Gortner came to the University of Minnesota in 1914 as Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry to work with his former mentor, Professor F. J. Alway, who had recently been appointed Professor of Soil Chemistry at the University. After two years, Dr. Gortner transferred to the Division of Biochemistry, and in 1917 was appointed full professor and chief, a position that he held until his death.

Dr. Gortner's scientific interests were very broad; his influence was felt in almost every field of agricultural science. He researched such fields as formation and chemistry of animals pigments, melanin, chemistry of embryonic growth, physicochemical properties of vegetables sap, soil analysis, organic constituents of the soil, colloids and proteins. His writings were published over 300 times in scientific journals. His first publications, in 1905 and 1906 as an undergraduate student, were chiefly in the area of organic chemistry, as was his doctoral dissertation. He then became interested in the field of colloid chemistry and began publishing papers in the field of plant and animal biochemistry as early as 1908. Among Dr. Gortner's major contributions to science were his textbook Outline of Biochemistry (1929, 1938) and lecture series at Cornell University titled Selected Topics in Colloid Chemistry (1935-1936). These lectures were later published as a book under the same title (1937). He was an associate editor of The Journal of the American Chemical Society and Journal of Physical Chemistry, and contributed chapters to several monographs.

Dr. Gortner's influence went far beyond the classroom as noted by his association with many scientific societies. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Chemical Society, and the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine. He served as both secretary and chair of the American Chemical Society and was a member of its editorial board for two terms. He was national president of the honorary chemical society, Phi Lambda Upsilon (1921-1926), president of the American Society of Naturalists (1932), and president of the prestigious national scientific society, Sigma Xi (1942).

Considered to be an inspiring teacher, he was the Wisconsin Alumni Foundation Lecturer (1930), Priestly Lecturer at Pennsylvania State College (1934) and George Fisher Baker Lecturer at Cornell University (1935-36). In 1932 the honorary degree of Doctor of Science was conferred on him by Lawrence College [Appleton, Wisconsin]. Dr. Gortner felt that his chief contribution to science was through his students. During his tenure at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Gortner personally directed 87 graduate students in residence, and counseled many others.

On May 19, 1942, Dr. Gortner was awarded the Osborne Medal of the American Association of Cereal Chemists, one of the outstanding chemical prizes in the country for having rendered distinguished service in research and student training in cereal chemistry. 1942 marked 25 years as chief of the Division of Biochemistry for Dr. Gortner.

Dr. Gortner was diagnosed with coronary thrombosis in 1938, but was able to pursue his interests nearly unabated until he died of heart failure on September 30, 1942, at the age of 57. In 1966, the Gortner Laboratory of Biochemistry was dedicated in his honor on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota.