Background
Wotiz, John Henry was born on April 12, 1919 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Son of Berthold B. and Bertha (Kauder) Wotiz. came to the United States, 1939, naturalized, 1944.
Wotiz, John Henry was born on April 12, 1919 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Son of Berthold B. and Bertha (Kauder) Wotiz. came to the United States, 1939, naturalized, 1944.
Student, Czech Polytechnicum, Prague, 1937. Bachelor of Science, Furman University, 1941. Master of Science, University Richmond, 1943.
Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, 1948. Doctor (honorary), Technology University, Ostrava, Czech Republic, 1998.
Instructor, U. Pittsburgh, 1948-1950;
assistant professor, U. Pittsburgh, 1950-1954;
associate professor, U. Pittsburgh, 1954-1957;
group leader research center, Diamond Alkali Company, Painesville, Ohio., 1957-1959;
senior group leader, Diamond Alkali Company, 1959-1962;
professor, chairman chemistry department, Marshall U., Huntington, West Virginia, 1962-1967;
professor, chairman chemistry department, Southern Illinois U., Carbondale, 1967-1968;
professor, Southern Illinois U., 1968-1989;
professor emeritus, Southern Illinois U., since 1989. National Academy Sciences visiting professor, Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, 1969, Eastern Europe, 1972. Visiting professor, lecturer, East Asian and Pacific Ocean countries, 1974, Japan, 1982, Great Britain, Federal Republic Germany, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, 1987, Peoples Republic China, 1988, Canada, India, 1990.
Past consultant Air Reduction Company, Watson Standard Company. President Glenview Press, Carbondale, Illinois.
Served as lieutenant, Chemical Corps Army of the United States, 1946-1948. Member American Chemical Society (chairman division history of chemistry 1979-1980, chairman of Southern Illinois Section, 1992, board directors Center for History of Chemistry, International Dexter award for outstanding contributions to history of chemistry 1982, Oral History Interview Chemical Heritage Foundation, 2001), History of Science Society, American Association of University Professors, American Contract Bridge League, Sigma Xi.
Married Kathryn Erdody, February 23, 1945. Children: Anita, Karen, Vivian.