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Father <strong>of</strong> Human Genetics . .New Year's and lasted until last June .Snyder taught genetics at the islands'university, and he returned mightypleased with the experience : his students-Chinese,Japanese, Korean andOkinawan, plus, <strong>of</strong> course, Hawaiianwereserious about Snyder's specialty .Too, he managed to move about enoughamong the islands to get in about 40 publiclectures .But Snyder apparently never feels he'squite as busy as he could be, so he andMrs . Snyder put their minds and handsto work at a new trade in their sparetime . Interested in Hawaiian jewelry,they collected . dozens <strong>of</strong> varieties <strong>of</strong> lusteredpalm seeds, then learned to sandpaperthem into fine necklaces, as theislanders do . One specimen took 100hours for the two to complete, and it'svalued at $100 .How did Snyder happen to become aworld leader in human genetics? It allbegan about 35 years ago when he was acollege student . Having become fascinatedby the study <strong>of</strong> blood groups, hewent on to write his doctoral dissertationon the subject while at Harvard . Thisled to another book, Blood Groups inClinical and legal Medicine . It was thefirst work <strong>of</strong> its kind to be brought outin English, and following publication theAmerican Medical Association packedits author <strong>of</strong>f to the Royal Dutch Academv<strong>of</strong> Science so that he could reveal hisfindings to that group in person .S n y d e r plunged into research .Through the years he became a veritablescientific detective, tracing racial distribution<strong>of</strong> blood groups, auestioningthe inheritance <strong>of</strong> human diseases,tracking down taste deficiencies andlinking them to the individual's geneticmakeup . He devised new methods <strong>of</strong>studying genetics, then laid out practicalmethods on trait information forfamilies . The basis for genetic counselin; throughout the world is the work <strong>of</strong>Snyder, as is the practical application <strong>of</strong>heredity in the prevention <strong>of</strong> disease .Some <strong>of</strong> his work was done at OakRidge in the way <strong>of</strong> nuclear studies .Countless students pored over the elementarygenetics textbook written bySnyder some 30 years ago . Besides beingone <strong>of</strong> the first written in English, it'sContinued from Page 2still the best used <strong>of</strong> any elementarywork in the field . Also, Snyder organizedthe first genetics class in this countryto be required <strong>of</strong> medical students,and he or his students originated everycourse being taught here .He was chairman <strong>of</strong> Ohio State <strong>University</strong>'sdepartment <strong>of</strong> zoology and entomologybefore joining O.U. in 1947 .Besides heading the Graduate Collegeat <strong>Oklahoma</strong>, he is pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> zoologyand medical genetics and director <strong>of</strong> organizedresearch as well . A man <strong>of</strong> hisstature holds many honors and <strong>of</strong>fices,and Snyder's are almost too numerous toenumerate . He has been president <strong>of</strong>the American Society <strong>of</strong> Human Geneticsand is now editor-in-chief <strong>of</strong> its journal. He is a member <strong>of</strong> the editorialboards <strong>of</strong> three other publications . Onecan count at least nine different fraternitiesto which he belongs, and he's beenpresident, vice president, director or adistinguished member <strong>of</strong> at least tenother major scientific organizations .There is no saying just which <strong>of</strong> hismany honors has been tops ; certainly hewould be too considerate <strong>of</strong> all organizationsrecognizing him to ever choose a"tops ." Still, friends <strong>of</strong> his tools specialnote <strong>of</strong> his selection, in 1953, as honorarypresident <strong>of</strong> Phi Sigma, internationalbiological society, for the <strong>of</strong>fice is reservedfor the scholar considered by thegroup to be America's outstanding biologist. Just as mentionable is the occasionwhen, in the closing days <strong>of</strong> 1955,the American Association for the Advancement<strong>of</strong> Science named him president-elect,which meant that he'd servein three major presidential <strong>of</strong>fices .An appreciation <strong>of</strong> the Dean's role inscience hasn't stopped colleagues andstudents from terming him a "real character"to boot. Snyder is anything butstaid . He has a remarkable sense <strong>of</strong> humorand keen wit, something most personscoming into contact with him realizeright <strong>of</strong>f the bat . Yet the clinchercomes when Snyder just happens to spota convenient, unoccupied piano in theroom . Seating himself at the instrument,he flexes his fingers for an instant,then drops them to the keys . For thenext few minutes, you'll be hearingeight-to-the-bar boogie woogie .Corporation's Denver <strong>of</strong>fices . They have threechildren, Lynne, Stephen and Mark .B . W. Bourne, '47eng, has been appointedHouston (Texas) area sales manager for DeltaTank Manufacturing Company . He is a veteran<strong>of</strong> ten years <strong>of</strong> sales work in the petroleum equipmentindustry.The Rev . Luke Jatnes Hallenbeck, '476s, HolyCross Abbey, Canon City, Colorado, was presenteda Master <strong>of</strong> Science degree in June at NewYork <strong>University</strong> .BIRTH : Robert A . Rutland, '47journ, andMrs . Rutland (the former Peggy Marchant, '47journ), Los Angeles, California, have chosen thename Nancy Allen for their second daughter bornMay 10 at U .C .L .A . Medica l Center, Los Angeles .Their other daughter is Betsy, 4 .1948James L . Buckley, '486us, and Mrs . Buckley(the former Thelma Antone, '48fa) and their fourchildren recently visited <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City while onleave from Venezuela . Buckley works in SouthAmerica as an accountant supervisor for StandardOil Company .Robert H . Martin, '48eng, recently was chosento fill a key production position in the CorningGlass Works plant, Muskogee . He will be plantquality and process engineer .Lyman Bryan, '48journ, Detroit, Michigan,was a special guest at the first meeting <strong>of</strong> a proposedstatewide public relations organization heldJuly 24 in <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City . He is director <strong>of</strong> communityrelations for the Chrysler Corporation,Detroit, Michigan, and a director <strong>of</strong> the AmericanPublic Relations Association .Virgil B . Brown, '48eng, Baytown, Texas, hasbeen promoted to senior coordination technicianat Humble Oil and Refining Company's Baytownrefinery . He and Mrs . Brown have two sons, GaryAlan and Steven Mark .Lieut. Dorothy A . Folmar, '486a, '50m .ed,<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, was recently graduated from theWomen's Army Corps basic <strong>of</strong>ficers course at FortMcClellan, Alabama . Her new station is WoltersAir Base, Mineral Wells, Texas .Stanley Goldstein, '48ms, Flushing, New York,received a Master <strong>of</strong> Science degree in June fromNew York <strong>University</strong> .BIRTH : Curtis A . Milligan, '486us, and Mrs .Milligan (the former Wendalcen Farmer, '43journ), <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, have chosen the namePatricia Susan for their third child, a daughter,born June 14 in <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City. They have anotherdaughter, Michaele Lynn, 11, and a son,Ricky Dane, 8 .1949Martin Margolis, '496a, Bronx, New York, receiveda Master <strong>of</strong> Arts degree in June from NewYork <strong>University</strong> .MARRIAGE : Miss Phyllis Margaret Brooks,Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Martin E . Dyer,'496us, '54Law, Ardmore, were married June 9in Toronto. They have established a home inArdmore .BIRTH : John W. Chyz, '496us, and MrsChyz, Norman, have chosen the name MargaretAnn for their daughter born June 20 in Norman1950Capt. James B . Stewart, '50ed, Anadarko,served as platoon leader while helping to trainsome 1,800 R .O .T.C . cadet s during a 6-week summercamp at Fort Riley, Kansas . Stewart is regularlyassigned to the R .O .T.C . staff at the <strong>University</strong><strong>of</strong> Nebraska .PAGE 1 8SOONER MAGAZINE

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