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{{Short description|Czech-American chemist}}
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{{Infobox scientist
'''John H. Wotiz''' (12 April 1919 in [[Ostrava]] – 21 August 2000 in [[Morehead, Kentucky]]) was a Czech-American chemist in the areas of [[organic chemistry]] and [[History of chemistry|chemical history]].<ref name="ACSbio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scs.illinois.edu/~mainzv/HIST/awards/Dexter%20Papers/WotizDexterBioJJB.pdf|title=John H. Wotiz (1919–2001)|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=American Chemical Society|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref><ref name="CENobit">{{Cite web|url=https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/topstory/7945/7945people.html|title=obituaries|website=Chemical and Engineering News|date=5 November 2001|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref>
| name = John Henry Wotiz
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1919|4|19}}
| birth_place = [[Ostrava]], [[Czechoslovakia]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2001|08|21|1919|04|19}}
| death_place = [[Morehead, Kentucky]], USA
| residence =
| nationality =
| field =
| work_institutions = [[University of Pittsburgh]], Diamond Alkali Company, [[Marshall University]], [[Southern Illinois University]]
| alma_mater = [[Czech Technical University in Prague]], [[Furman University]], [[University of Richmond]], [[Ohio State University]]
|doctoral_advisor = [[Melvin Spencer Newman|Melvin S. Newman]]
| awards = [[Dexter Award]]
}}

'''John Henry Wotiz''' (April 12, 1919 – August 21, 2001)<ref name="Obituary"/> was a Czech-American chemist in the areas of [[organic chemistry]] and [[History of chemistry|chemical history]].


== Career ==
== Career ==
Wotiz began studying of chemical engineering at the [[Czech Technical University in Prague]], but chose to flee to the USA with his brother before the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia]]. In 1941 he received a Bachelor's degree in chemistry from [[Furman University]] and in 1943 a Master's degree from the [[University of Richmond]]. At the end of [[World War II]] he served in the [[United States Army]] as [[Lieutenant]] of chemical weaponry. In 1944 he became an US citizen. In 1948 he earned a PhD in chemistry under [[Melvin Spencer Newman|Melvin S. Newman]] at [[Ohio State University]]. He was then an instructor and from 1954 an associate professor at the [[University of Pittsburgh]] and went to industry at the Diamond Alkali Company in [[Painesville, Ohio|Painesville]] in 1957. There he was involved in authoring 44 patents. In 1962 he became a professor at [[Marshall University]] in [[Huntington, West Virginia]], and in 1967 at [[Southern Illinois University]] in [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]]. In 1980 he was Chairman of the History Division of the [[American Chemical Society]]. Starting in 1971 he organized trips to Europe regarding the history of chemistry. As a chemical historian, he was particularly concerned with [[August Kekulé]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Browne|first=Malcolm W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/16/science/the-benzene-ring-dream-analysis.html|title=The Benzene Ring: Dream Analysis|date=1988-08-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-12|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/09/opinion/l-the-man-who-dreamed-benzene-rings-545788.html|title=The Man Who Dreamed Benzene Rings|date=1988-09-09|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-12|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was involved in establishing the [[Science History Institute|Chemical Heritage Foundation]]. He retired in 1989. He was particularly committed to international exchange with Eastern Europe and was involved in comparative studies of chemical education in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Asia. He died in a car accident with his wife.
Wotiz began studying of chemical engineering at the [[Czech Technical University in Prague]], but went to the US with his brother in 1939 because of the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia]].<ref name="ACSbio">{{Cite web|url=http://acshist.scs.illinois.edu/awards/Dexter%20Papers/WotizDexterBioJJB.pdf|title=John H. Wotiz (1919–2001)|date=2006 |publisher=American Chemical Society}}</ref><ref name="OH">{{cite book|title= John H. Wotiz, interviewed by Herbert T. Pratt in Newcastle, Delaware on August 8, 2000. Oral History Transcript 0197 |date= 2000 |place=Philadelphia, PA|publisher=[[Science History Institute]] |url=https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/08612p84t }}</ref> In 1941 he received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from [[Furman University]] and in 1943 a master's degree from the [[University of Richmond]]. At the end of [[World War II]] he served in the [[United States Army]] as [[Lieutenant]] of chemical weaponry. In 1944 he became a US citizen. In 1948 he earned a PhD in chemistry under [[Melvin Spencer Newman|Melvin S. Newman]] at [[Ohio State University]].<ref name="ACSbio"/>

Wotiz was an instructor and from 1954 an associate professor at the [[University of Pittsburgh]]. He went to work in industry at the Diamond Alkali Company in [[Painesville, Ohio|Painesville]] in 1957. There he was involved in authoring 44 patents. In 1962 he became a professor at [[Marshall University]] in [[Huntington, West Virginia]], and in 1967 at [[Southern Illinois University]] in [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]].<ref name="ACSbio"/>

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [https://www.pbs.org/video/wsiu-events-siu-connections-kekule-riddle/ SIU Connections Kekule Riddle], [[PBS]], March 22, 1993}}

In 1980 Wotiz was Chairman of the History Division of the [[American Chemical Society]]. Starting in 1971 he organized trips to Europe regarding the history of chemistry. As a chemical historian, he was particularly concerned with [[August Kekulé]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Browne|first=Malcolm W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/16/science/the-benzene-ring-dream-analysis.html|title=The Benzene Ring: Dream Analysis|date=1988-08-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/09/opinion/l-the-man-who-dreamed-benzene-rings-545788.html|title=The Man Who Dreamed Benzene Rings|date=1988-09-09|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=BONNAN |first1=STU |title=19th-century Chemist Kekulé Charged With Scientific Misconduct |journal=Chemical & Engineering News |date=23 August 1993 |volume=71 |issue=34 |pages=20–21 |doi=10.1021/cen-v071n034.p020}}</ref><ref name="Nye">{{cite book |last1=Nye |first1=Mary Jo |title=From chemical philosophy to theoretical chemistry: dynamics of matter and dynamics of disciplines. 1800-1950. |date=1993 |publisher=University California Press |location=California |pages=26–27 |isbn=9780520913561 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zOXB_AVT08kC&pg=PA26}}</ref><ref name="Rudofsky">{{cite journal |last1=Wotiz |first1=John H. |last2=Rudofsky |first2=Susanna |title=Was there a conspiracy when Kekulé's first German benzene-structure paper was frequently listed as published in 1865? |journal=Journal of Chemical Education |date=January 1982 |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=23 |doi=10.1021/ed059p23 |bibcode=1982JChEd..59...23W |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed059p23 |access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref> He was involved in establishing a center for the history of chemistry, the [[Chemical Heritage Foundation]] (now the Science History Institute).<ref name="Magazine"/><ref name="ACSbio"/>

Wotiz retired in 1989. He was particularly committed to international exchange with Eastern Europe and was involved in comparative studies of chemical education in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Asia.<ref name="ACSbio"/> He and his wife Kathryn died as a result of a car accident on August 21, 2001.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/topstory/7945/7945people.html|title=People: obituaries |journal=Chemical and Engineering News|date=5 November 2001|volume= 79|number= 45|pages=45–48|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref><ref name="Obituary">{{cite news |title=Dr. John Henry and Kathryn E. "Kay" Wotiz |page =14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41558762/obituary-for-john-henry-wotiz/ |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=Southern Illinoisan |location=Carbondale, Illinois |date=26 August 2001}}</ref>


== Awards ==
== Awards ==
In 1982 he earned the [[Dexter Award]]. In 1998 he was awarded an honorary doctorate the [[Technical University of Ostrava]] (in his home town) after receiving their gold medal in 1982.
In 1982 Wotiz received the [[Dexter Award]], in part for his contributions to the establishment of a [[Science History Institute|center for the history of chemistry]].<ref name="HIST">{{cite web |title=HIST AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY |url=http://acshist.scs.illinois.edu/awards/hist_award.php |website=American Chemical Society Division of the History of Chemistry |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="Magazine">{{cite journal |last1=Heindel |first1=Ned |title= The story behind the story |journal= Chemical Heritage Magazine |publisher= [[Chemical Heritage Foundation]] |date=2000|volume=18 |issue=3 |page=45 }}</ref> In 1998 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the [[Technical University of Ostrava]] (in his home town) after receiving their gold medal in 1982.<ref name="ACSbio"/>


== Works ==
== Works ==
{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27478917|title=The Kekulé riddle : a challenge for chemists and psychologists|date=1993|publisher=Cache River Press|others=Wotiz, John H.|isbn=0-9627422-2-8|edition=1st|location=Clearwater, FL|oclc=27478917}}
{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27478917|title=The Kekulé riddle: a challenge for chemists and psychologists|date=1993|publisher=Cache River Press|others=Wotiz, John H.|isbn=0-9627422-2-8|edition=1st|location=Clearwater, FL|oclc=27478917}}

==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links==
== External links==
* {{cite book|title= John H. Wotiz, interviewed by Herbert T. Pratt in Newcastle, Delaware on August 8, 2000. Oral History Transcript 0197 |date= 2000 |place=Philadelphia, PA|publisher=[[Science History Institute]] |url=https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/08612p84t }}
* [http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/collections/oral-histories/details/wotiz-john-h.aspx Chemical Heritage Foundation]

{{Authority control}}
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[[:Category:2000 deaths]]
[[:Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[:Category:20th-century chemists]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[:Category:Historians of chemistry]]
[[Category:20th-century American chemists]]
[[Category:Historians of chemistry]]
[[Category:University of Richmond alumni]]
[[Category:Ohio State University Graduate School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American historians]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:People from Ostrava]]
[[Category:Czech Technical University in Prague alumni]]
[[Category:Furman University alumni]]
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[[Category:Czech chemists]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh faculty]]
[[Category:Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty]]
[[Category:Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Marshall University faculty]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]

Latest revision as of 20:14, 9 June 2024

John Henry Wotiz
Born(1919-04-19)April 19, 1919
Ostrava, Czechoslovakia
DiedAugust 21, 2001(2001-08-21) (aged 82)
Morehead, Kentucky, USA
Alma materCzech Technical University in Prague, Furman University, University of Richmond, Ohio State University
AwardsDexter Award
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Pittsburgh, Diamond Alkali Company, Marshall University, Southern Illinois University
Doctoral advisorMelvin S. Newman

John Henry Wotiz (April 12, 1919 – August 21, 2001)[1] was a Czech-American chemist in the areas of organic chemistry and chemical history.

Career

[edit]

Wotiz began studying of chemical engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague, but went to the US with his brother in 1939 because of the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.[2][3] In 1941 he received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Furman University and in 1943 a master's degree from the University of Richmond. At the end of World War II he served in the United States Army as Lieutenant of chemical weaponry. In 1944 he became a US citizen. In 1948 he earned a PhD in chemistry under Melvin S. Newman at Ohio State University.[2]

Wotiz was an instructor and from 1954 an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh. He went to work in industry at the Diamond Alkali Company in Painesville in 1957. There he was involved in authoring 44 patents. In 1962 he became a professor at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and in 1967 at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.[2]

External videos
video icon SIU Connections Kekule Riddle, PBS, March 22, 1993

In 1980 Wotiz was Chairman of the History Division of the American Chemical Society. Starting in 1971 he organized trips to Europe regarding the history of chemistry. As a chemical historian, he was particularly concerned with August Kekulé.[4][5][6][7][8] He was involved in establishing a center for the history of chemistry, the Chemical Heritage Foundation (now the Science History Institute).[9][2]

Wotiz retired in 1989. He was particularly committed to international exchange with Eastern Europe and was involved in comparative studies of chemical education in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Asia.[2] He and his wife Kathryn died as a result of a car accident on August 21, 2001.[10][1]

Awards

[edit]

In 1982 Wotiz received the Dexter Award, in part for his contributions to the establishment of a center for the history of chemistry.[11][9] In 1998 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Technical University of Ostrava (in his home town) after receiving their gold medal in 1982.[2]

Works

[edit]

The Kekulé riddle: a challenge for chemists and psychologists. Wotiz, John H. (1st ed.). Clearwater, FL: Cache River Press. 1993. ISBN 0-9627422-2-8. OCLC 27478917.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Dr. John Henry and Kathryn E. "Kay" Wotiz". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. 26 August 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "John H. Wotiz (1919–2001)" (PDF). American Chemical Society. 2006.
  3. ^ John H. Wotiz, interviewed by Herbert T. Pratt in Newcastle, Delaware on August 8, 2000. Oral History Transcript 0197. Philadelphia, PA: Science History Institute. 2000.
  4. ^ Browne, Malcolm W. (1988-08-16). "The Benzene Ring: Dream Analysis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  5. ^ "The Man Who Dreamed Benzene Rings". The New York Times. 1988-09-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  6. ^ BONNAN, STU (23 August 1993). "19th-century Chemist Kekulé Charged With Scientific Misconduct". Chemical & Engineering News. 71 (34): 20–21. doi:10.1021/cen-v071n034.p020.
  7. ^ Nye, Mary Jo (1993). From chemical philosophy to theoretical chemistry: dynamics of matter and dynamics of disciplines. 1800-1950. California: University California Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 9780520913561.
  8. ^ Wotiz, John H.; Rudofsky, Susanna (January 1982). "Was there a conspiracy when Kekulé's first German benzene-structure paper was frequently listed as published in 1865?". Journal of Chemical Education. 59 (1): 23. Bibcode:1982JChEd..59...23W. doi:10.1021/ed059p23. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b Heindel, Ned (2000). "The story behind the story". Chemical Heritage Magazine. 18 (3). Chemical Heritage Foundation: 45.
  10. ^ "People: obituaries". Chemical and Engineering News. 79 (45): 45–48. 5 November 2001. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  11. ^ "HIST AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY". American Chemical Society Division of the History of Chemistry. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
[edit]
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