Section History

On January 1, 1948, a petition signed by 59 members was submitted to the council requesting authorization of a local section comprising Benton and Franklin counties to be known as the Richland Section. On February 23, ten more signatures were added, and when the charger was granted on April 18, 1948, the membership had grown to 102 members. Dr. R. L. Moore, one of the organizers of the petition, became the first chairman.

The source of the membership was, of course, the Hanford Project which produced and separated plutonium during World War II. During 1947 and the immediate years following, the project was reorganized, and the General Electric Company took over the operation of what was then called the Hanford Engineering Works with the goal of modernizing and expanding the operation. With the advent of a vigorous research program, the scientific staff increased rapidly and within three years the section reached a membership of 200, only slightly below what was to become the stable membership.

Although the bulk of the membership still represents the now diversified atomic energy related industry of the tri-city area, Richland, Pasco and Kennewick, Washington, the geographical area has increased, and an increasing number of members reside in areas further removed such as Yakima, Walla Walla, Washington and La Grande, Oregon.

The membership was drawn from all sections of the U.S., and it was only natural that a strong interest would develop in activities beyond the Hanford Project. In 1950, the Section was host for the Northwest Regional Meeting which developed into a very popular annual event.

By the time the chapter celebrated its 10th anniversary, it had brought to the scientific community over 100 outstanding technical speakers including many of national and international fame such as George Beadle, Wallace Brode, Melvin Calvin, Farrington Daniels, Paul Emmett, W. C. Fernelius. Joel Hildebrand, Ralph Miller, Linus Pauling, Isadore Perlman, Kenneth Pitzer, Glen Seaborg and Roger Williams. Subsequent years have continued to show lists outstanding scientific personalities as visitors and speakers for the section meeting.

The Richland Sections has always shown a strong interest in education. ACS members founded the science fair early in the fifties which now has grown to the regional Mid-Columbia Science Fair Association. Much effort, individual and collective, has been directed towards the encouragement of quality high school chemical programs in the area. At the time the Chapter was organized there were no post-secondary schools in the Section’s area. With the expanded geographical boundaries and the growth of the Tri-City area, there are now three four-year schools and four community colleges. The Richland section has organized a student affiliate chapter at one of the schools, Eastern Oregon State College in 1971 (now Eastern Oregon University).

The Section has sponsored a wide variety of activities for its membership. Included are membership coffees, especially directed towards new members and candidates, dinner meetings, “mini” symposia held in nearby communities, picnics and dances, and the Regional Meetings four of which have been held in Richland.

Of the charter members, about one fourth are still in the area, and many of those are still active in ACS activities.

It is impossible to list in this brief history the many individuals who have generously contributed countless hours to the Section and to the Society. Some of the members who made particularly significant contributions in the beginning years of the Section are:

• Robert Lee Moore (a founder) – first Chairman and recent Councilor.
• Winton Patnode (a founder) – long time Councilor.
• Harry Kornberg (a founder) – first secretary.
• Cornelius Groot (a founder) – By-Laws Chairman.
• Dennis Pearce – Councilor and Building Drive Chairman.
• Orvill Hill – Third Chairman and long-time Councilor.
• Albert Bushey – 1950 Regional Meeting Chairman and Fourth Section Chairman.
• Fred Leitz – Fifth Chairman.
• Harold Schmidt – Sixth Chairman and a constant source of enthusiasm for ACS and Section activities.

To these individuals, to the Section Chairmen listed below, to the other officers and many individuals in committee positions, the scientific community of the Northwest owes a great deal.

A resumé of the first decade

From its inception at the organizational meeting on July 6, 1948, the Richland Section of the American Chemical Society has been responsible for bringing to the scientific community of the Southeastern Washington more than 100 outstanding technical speakers. Covering almost every conceivable subject related to chemistry, the roster of these speakers includes many of national and international fame such as George Beadle, Wallace Brode, Melvin Calvin, Farrington Daniels, Paul Emmett, W. C. Fernelius. Joel Hildebrand, Ralph Miller, Linus Pauling, Isadore Perlman, Kenneth Pitzer, Glenn Seaborg and Roger Williams. The opportunity to hear these men alone would be ample justification for the Section’s existence. Yet, additional services, equally significant, have been provided by the Section during its first ten years.

Opportunities were provided for twelve local technical people to report scientific accomplishments to their colleagues at regular Section meetings. Many more opportunities of this type were offered through the annual Regional Meetings, two of which were directly sponsored by the Section in Richland in 1950 and 1954. The 1950 meeting was attended by 325 delegates with some 80 papers being presented. In 1954, 257 registered and 62 papers were presented. A similar opportunity to display their scientific efforts has been provided to the students of the area through the medium of annual Science Fairs which have been partly sponsored by the Section. Leadership for the Science Fairs and workshops has been willingly provided from among the Section’s membership.

Columbia Basin high schools have been provided with equipment and lecturers to aid the science education of their students. The students themselves have been counseled vocationally by ACS members, and the inspired to higher achievements through locally sponsored ACS awards. A speaker’s bureau has provided technical speakers upon request to all parts of the state.

Finally, but far from least, the Section has fostered a feeling of friendship and cooperation among the chemists and chemical engineers of the area. Members have gathered for dinner meetings, picnics, smokers, and other social events on numerous occasions. Young people in the profession have been able to personal acquaintance with these people. The veterans on the other hand have had the pleasure and the thrill of seeing the youngsters develop and “fill their shoes” so to speak in managing the Section and advancing the profession.

During its ten-year history, the Richland Section began with 59 members and has varied in size as follows:

All its achievements are not, of course, accomplishments of the “Section” as such. They are the results of efforts by its members, working collectively and individually. To complete this brief history without mention of those whose efforts made it possible would be, indeed, a disservice. Yet, to mention each and every one would be nearly impossible. Many have left the area. Many are now only beginning their contributions to the Society. Like any such list, it cannot be entirely objective. Perhaps it can inspire others to contribute as did the relatively small group whose names might be considered on a sort of “Honor Roll” of the Richland Section.

• Robert Lee Moore (a founder) – first Chairman and recent Councilor.
• Bernard Weidenbaum (a founder) – second Chairman
• Winton Patnode (a founder) – long time Councilor.
• Harry Kornberg (a founder) – first secretary.
• Cornelius Groot (a founder) – By-Laws Chairman.
• Dennis Pearce – Councilor and Building Drive Chairman.
• Orvill Hill – Third Chairman and long-time Councilor.
• Albert Bushey – 1950 Regional Meeting Chairman and Fourth Section Chairman.
• R. E. “Curt” Curtis – longtime Membership Chairman and building drive Chairman.
• Fred Leitz – Fifth Chairman.
• Harold Schmidt – Sixth Chairman and a constant source of enthusiasm for ACS and Section activities.
• Edwin Kinderman – Section officer and extensive committee service.
• Roy Thompson – seventh Chairman.
• William Carson – frequent speaker at Section meetings.
• William DeHollander – eighth Chairman.
• Milton Lewis – 1954 Regional Meeting Chairman and ninth Chairman.
• Rubin Borasky – Science Fair Representative.
• Lee Burger – Education Committee and tenth Chairman.
• M. W. “Pat” Gift – extensive committee service
• Harlan Anderson – Section officer and extensive committee service.
• Ted Bierlein – Section officer and extensive committee service.
• Raymond Burns – Section officer and Councilor.

To these and to many others, not mentioned by name, the scientific community of Southeastern Washington owes a debt of gratitude.

Area update

The following areas were added to the Richland Section on 9/15/70:

• In Washington counties of Yakima and Klickitat were released by the Puget Sound Section.
• Washington’s Grant county
• Oregon counties of Union and Umatilla