World War II Honoree

Emerson L. Wittbecker

Hometown

Champaign, Illinois

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

RECEIVED BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. GRADUATED FROM PENN STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1942 WITH A PHD IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. UNDER AN OCCUPATIONAL DEFERMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, CONTINUED TO WORK AT PENN STATE PERFORMING LABORATORY RESEARCH INVOLVING STEROLS, SAPOGENINS AND SEX HORMONES. DEVELOPED METHODS TO PRODUCE SYNTHETIC PROGESTERONE. LATER IN 1942, CONTINUING UNDER OCCUPATIONAL DEFERMENT, WENT TO WORK FOR DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, PERFORMING RESEARCH TO DISCOVER NEW POLYMERS AND FIBERS. ONE POLYMER DEVELOPED WAS AN ELASTIC FIBER THAT WAS TESTED AS A PLASTIC WATCH BAND THAT WOULD BE DURABLE IN JUNGLE-LIKE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PUBLISHED NUMEROUS RESEARCH PAPERS ON THESE TOPICS DURING THE WAR.