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The science community knows New Madrid, Missouri for two events: the apparently largest earthquake known to have occurred in the United States and Dr. James Shoffner. Young Jim was born on a very rural plantation in the Illinois-Missouri-Kentucky-Tennessee-Arkansas region. Jim's parents moved the family to New Madrid (located in the Bootheel Section of Missouri on the Mississippi River) when he was an infant where he was able to attend grade school and high school...some of the time. In the 1930's the segregated schools were only open for African Americans for about 5 months of the year. School was closed for cotton chopping and picking. Young Jim didn't even know anything about chemistry until he attended a boarding high school in Kansas City, Missouri, for the last two years of high school. While offering a semester course in chemistry, this school didn't have a laboratory, but did teach chemical formulas. General biology and math were also offered. Young Jim continued to fulfill his duties to work in the fields, and generally started attending the last two years of school by about November. Dr. Shoffner indicated that this left him with a "very incomplete background in math and science." At this time, it would have been difficult to anticipate that Dr. Shoffner would become a highly successful scientist at a major company and serve the ACS in so many ways, including a position on the Board of Directors of the national organization.
Jim wanted to attend college...not an easy task with his background. Jim attended college at Lincoln University (MO); first for a year. He then joined the Army, in part to earn tuition benefits under the GI Bill. After the service, he completed his college career. Jim's first career thought was to become a medical doctor. During this time in college, the head of the Chemistry Department enticed students to major in chemistry with the argument that "you won't all get into medical school," and "with chemistry, you can get a job in industry." Jim also loved biology, but decided he could at best hope to teach biology if he didn't eventually become a doctor. Jim did quite well in college, and made his family very proud with a new degree; it was now time for a real job. At this point, Jim was not certain what he wanted to do, but decided that the path was not through medical school. Well, his dream was chemistry, but the only job opportunity at this time was at the Post Office - he worked for a time at the Post Office in Chicago, where he moved after getting his B.S.
Going back to school, Jim earned a Masters Degree in organic chemistry from DePaul University. Back to work, he was now working for a local paint and varnish company. In the 1950's workers were not protected by OSHA. With the very strong odors and presence of volatile chemicals, Jim "knew that this was probably not good for my health." Jim then moved on to do carbohydrate research for Corn Products in Argo, Illinois. This turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for research in carbohydrate chemistry, and Jim married Cornelia and started a family. After 6 years at CPC, he decided to return to graduate school to earn a Ph.D.
Jim earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Illinois at the Medical Center in Chicago. Jim's thesis work involved synthesis and characterization of pyridones, pyrimidones and their cations; the work required synthesis and characterization using infra-red (IR) spectroscopy. One day, a prominent scientist from UOP, Dr. Louis Schmerling, gave an inspiring lecture at the School of Pharmacy, followed by the suggestion for students to look at employment opportunities at UOP after completing graduate school.
At the time, UOP was at the center of chemical research; UOP was doing interesting research: fundamental research, engineering research...everything from basic to very applied chemistry. UOP had a long list of distinguished researchers that were internationally known and respected. Jim and his family enjoyed the Chicago area, and UOP looked like "the place to be" for him. UOP would be Dr. Shoffner's professional home for the next 30 years. As with most industrial positions, UOP provided...and required a very broad career. Jim loved his job at UOP; he was treated very well by the company and enjoyed working with a broad range of scientists and engineers. With exceptional energy, Dr. Shoffner was not content to only do one job! While working on broad areas such as NMR spectroscopy, shift reagents, additives for plastics, rubber and fluids and breaking new ground in imine chemistry, Dr. Shoffner also started a second career with the American Chemical Society. Dr. Shoffner was highly encouraged by his bosses Dr. Haensel and Dr. Bloch (both were inducted into the National Academy of Science) to become involved in the American Chemical Society. UOP encouraged professional activities...and Dr. Shoffner excelled at this. He became active in the Division relevant to his employment: the Division of Petroleum Chemistry. He also became a board member of the Chicago Section of the ACS, and then a Councilor in 1974; last year he received his 30-year councilor plaque. In the national ACS, he has served as a member of all standing committees of the national board. He has also worked tirelessly in many positions, including Chair, at the Chicago Section.
When asked what guidance he would give young people, Dr. Shoffner replied: "Follow your dream; find things that you are passionate about...and don't make career decisions strictly on the basis of current job openings." When he was starting chemistry, people advised him that "companies don't hire black people." Well, Dr. Shoffner determined that he wanted a career in chemistry, and that he had the skill and the passion to succeed. He became a key employee in a major chemical technology company, a science advisor to the governor, a Councilor and Board Member of the American Chemical Society. Attending a local or national ACS meeting, almost anybody connected to our 160,000 organization will recognize Dr. Shoffner. He became one of the first in 1968 to chair (with Dr. Joe Arrigo) the pilot of Project SEED, a program to help disadvantaged students into a career in chemistry. He continues to work tirelessly for the ACS and for the broader community.
Dr. Shoffner through his many years of experience continues to have unending energy and passion for chemistry; he also sees significant changes in the field of chemistry. "Chemistry is becoming more interdisciplinary," he states. "You must see the glass as half full, and you must get out of our narrow ways that we do science...the ways of the past...and transfer knowledge to and accept knowledge from other disciplines. For example, "we are just scratching the surface of chemical biology."
Dr. Shoffner's career: A dream career for an ambitious, energetic young man working on a rural plantation, where part time school was only required to the 6th grade, during a time when many people were excluded from our profession...who became a highly respected scientist at a major corporation and an honored Board Member of the world's largest scientific organization devoted to a single discipline..."Follow your Dream."
Written by RUSS JOHNSON
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR
Updated 3/25/05