William F. Talbot

William Fletcher Talbot (October 29, 1903 – November 1967) was a research chemist and the founding director of SRI International, a position he held from 1946 to 1947.[1][2]

For other people with the same name, see William Talbot.
William F. Talbot
Born(1904-10-29)October 29, 1904
Loup City, Nebraska
DiedNovember 1967 (aged 63)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materState University of Iowa
Scientific career
InstitutionsDuPont
Sun Chemical
Office of Strategic Services
Stanford Research Institute
Rubberset Company
Bristol Myers

Early life and education

Born in Loup City, Nebraska in 1903,[3] Talbot received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the State University of Iowa.[4]

Career

Initially a teacher, Talbot joined E. I. du Pont as a research chemist. He was then a research chemist for A. D. Little.[4] He was later the technical director of the Sun Chemical Company (formerly the General Printing Ink Company) and president of its Fine Chemicals Division. While on leave from Sun in 1944, he was the assistant director of research and development for the Office of Strategic Services.[4] During his career, he developed melamine resin, a type of plastic used for molding and casting. Talbot held several patents.[4]

Unofficially appointed in September 1946 and officially appointed in January 1947, he was SRI International's first director.[4] He helped establish the organization and set its early priorities. Due to a dispute with Stanford University president Donald Tresidder, he offered his resignation and reluctantly left SRI in December 1947. Talbot believed SRI should seek contracts from governmental organizations (and be what is now considered a defense contractor); Tressider believed the organization should be independent from government interference.[2]

Talbot went on to work for the Rubberset Company and later for Bristol Myers. He died in 1967.[4]

References
  1. Nielson, Donald (2006). A Heritage of Innovation: SRI's First Half Century. SRI International. ISBN 978-0-9745208-1-0.
  2. Lowen, Rebecca (July–August 1997). "Exploiting a Wonderful Opportunity". Stanford Magazine. Stanford Alumni Association. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  3. Leonard, John W.; Downs, Winfield Scott; Lewis, M. M. (1954). "Who's who in Engineering".
  4. Gibson, Weldon B (1980). SRI: The Founding Years. Stanford Research Institute. ISBN 0-913232-80-7.
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