Maurice Morton

Background

Morton was born in pre-World War I Latvia, on 3 June 1913.

Education

1934 - Bachelor Chemistry at McGill University

1945 - Doctor of Philosophy Chemistry, McGill University on the topic of emulsion copolymerization of butadiene-styrene (SBR) rubber.

Career

He was the first director of the University of Akron"s Institute of Rubber Research, which in 1993 was renamed the Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science. Due to political instability following World War I, Morton"s family moved to Canada, settling in Montreal. Some of his earliest memories were of gunfire when the Russian Revolution began in Saint St. Petersburg.

The two were married for sixty years, until her death in 1993.

Morton emigrated to the United States in 1948, to take a position at the University of Akron, where he would remain for his career. Morton had three children, Jay Dennis, John Alex, and Ruth.

1934 - Bachelor Chemistry at McGill University 1936 - 1941 Chief Chemist - Johns Manville, Quebec 1941 - 1944 Chief Chemist - Congoleum Canada, Montreal 1945 - 1948 Assistant Professor and department head at Concordia University 1948 - hired by George South. Whitby as assistant director of rubber research for the United States Government Rubber Research Program"s at the University of Akron. 1952 - upon retirement of Professor

Whitby, the university appointed Morton as the first Professor of Polymer Chemistry, and assistant director of the chemistry department.

1956 - founded the Doctor of Philosophy program in Polymer Chemistry at the university"s Institute of Rubber Research 1962 - served as chairman of the American College of Surgeons Division of Polymer Chemistry. 1993 - retired as Regents Professor Emeritus of Polymer Chemistry Morton held three patents in polymer chemistry. He wrote more than 100 technical articles over his career, as well as widely used texts.

Achievements

• 1979 - Colwyn Medal of the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Great Britain 1985 - Charles Goodyear Medal from the American College of Surgeons Rubber Division 1988 - Paul J. Flory Polymer Award 1990 - Médaille de la Ville de Paris 1991 - Honorary Doctorate, University of Akron 1994 - International Rubber Science Hall of Fame.