Wotiz, John H.

Born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia on 12 April 1919. Died on 21 August 2001. Education: B.S., Chemistry, Furman University (1941), M.S., Chemistry, University of Richmond (1943), Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Ohio State University (1948). Employment: 1941-1943 University of Richmond; 1943-1947 Ohio State University; 1948-1957 University of Pittsburgh; 1957-1962 Diamond Alkali Co.; 1962-1967 Marshall University; 1969-1974 National Academy of Science; 1967-2001 Southern Illinois University.

John Henry Wotiz was born in Ostrova, Czech Republic in 1919. He was educated at Furman University and the University of Richmond. After wartime service in the Chemical Warfare Service of the U.S. Army he received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1948. Wotiz worked briefly in industry but mostly taught Organic Chemistry. In later years he developed an interest in the history of Chemistry and taught and conducted tours to significant sites throughout Europe. He was an active participant in the ACS Division on the History of Chemistry (HIST), eventually becoming its chairman. In that capacity he played an important role in the founding of the Center for the History of Chemistry (CHOC, later CHF) and was recipient of HIST's 1982 Dexter Award. He remained active throughout his retirement years writing and lecturing and was a longtime member of the ACS Speaker Service. He and his wife Kay were killed in an automobile accident in 2001.