PROCEEDINGS OF THE OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Volume 73—1993

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James E. Webster, 90, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Oklahoma State University, died at his home in Stillwater, OK, on August 6, 1993. A native of Ohio, Webster received both the bachelor's (1927) and the Ph.D. (1928) degree from The Ohio State University. He joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University in 1927. After retiring in 1968, Webster continued as a student counselor in the College of Agriculture until 1978.

For 41 years Webster taught an organic chemistry course for students of agriculture and related disciplines. His research on the chemical composition of various agronomic products resulted in 58 publications. He was a long time member of the American Chemical Society, served as secretary (8 yr), vice chairman and chairman of the Oklahoma Section, and did abstracting for Chemical Abstracts for over 30 years. Webster was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, serving the latter as its President in 1965. He was also a member of the American Society of Plant Physiology, Alpha Zeta, Gamma Alpha Phi, Kappa Phi, Phi Lambda Upsilon, and Sigma Xi.

During his tenure at Oklahoma State, he received three outstanding teaching awards, served on scholarship committees (Chairman > 11 yr), served as acting Department Head (1966-67) and on the Athletic Council, and kept the official OSU football statistics in the press box for more than 33 yr. The Alumni Foundation Office states that he was affiliated with teaching longer than any other OSU professor. In private life, Webster, a Methodist (counted the contributions for >35 yr), promoted the boy scouts (55 yr and a Silver Beaver Award), bowled, golfed, and collected stamps and American art pottery.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Verna I. Webster; one son and his wife, James L. and Virginia Grace Webster of Parkersburg, W. V.; one daughter and her husband James G. and Phyllis Mayberry of Stillwater; six grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Roger E. Koeppe
(with minor editing by:
Franklin R. Leach)