US House of Representatives Approves Resolution Honoring Percy Julian '20

January 31, 2007

Visit Special Percy Julian Web Page

January 31, 2007, Greencastle, Ind. - The House of Representatives has passed a bill honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian, "a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry research and development and the first and only African-American chemist to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences," notes an announcement from Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), who introduced the measure. Julian was a 1920 graduate of DePauw and member of the University's Board of Trustees. A similar resolution, sponsored by Barack Obama, is pending in the Senate.

"I am pleased that my House colleagues supported this resolution to honor Dr. Julian," says Rep. Johnson. "As a black chemist of international fame, he is a role model for future generations of minority scientists. I hope the Congress will continue to support policies that encourage more women and minorities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math."

Read the full announcement by clicking here.

The life and contributions of Percy Julian, who died in 1975, will be the subject of a two hour NOVA program, "Forgotten Genius," which will air Tuesday, February 6 on PBS. An article in Chemical & Engineering News reports that a private preview screening of the film in Washington, D.C. January 23 drew more than 500 people. The NOVA show is also noted in today's Boston Globe and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A Chicago Tribune op-ed this week discussed Dr. Julian's pioneering work.

To view an extended clip of the PBS program and to learn more about Percy Julian's DePauw experiences through text, photos, audio and video, visit this special Web page.

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