Background
Smith, Thor L. was born on June 11, 1920 in Zion, Illinois, United States.
Smith, Thor L. was born on June 11, 1920 in Zion, Illinois, United States.
Bachelor of Science, Wheaton College, 1942; Master of Science, Illinois Institute Technology, 1944; Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1948.
Research chemist, Hercules Company, 1948-1954; senior research engineer Jet Propulsion Lab, California Institute Technology, 1954-1956; chief solid propellant chemical section, California Institute Technology, 1956-1959; chairman propulsion department, Stanford (California) Research Institute, 1959-1961; director propulsion science division, Stanford (California) Research Institute, 1961-1964; science fellow, Stanford (California) Research Institute, 1964-1968; professor of chemistry, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1968-1969; research staff member, International Business Machines Corporation Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California, since 1969. Centennial scholars lecturer Case Western Reserve U., 1980, Whitby Memorial lecturer U. Akron, 1974.
Fellow American Physical Society. Member National Academy of Engineering, American Chemical Society, British Society Rheology, Society Rheology (president 1967-1969, Bingham medal 1978).
Married, 1949; 2 children.