Pusey Honors Woodward For 'Benefits to Mankind'

Robert B. Woodward, Morris Loeb Professor of Chemistry, has been singled out as the University's "leading contributor to science and the benefit of mankind," with the first award of the newly-established George Ledlie Prize.

Woodward's work in the synthesis of "miracle drugs" earned the 1953-54 prize at the recommendation of the Council of Deans. President Pusey awarded him the $1000 prize for his synthesis of quinine ten years ago, his contributions to the synthesis of cortisone, and his recently announced syntheses of strychnine and Iysergic acid.

In accordance with the will of George Ledlie '84, a journalist, the University will henceforth award $1000 every two years to the individual at Harvard who, in the University's judgement, "has by research, discovered or otherwise made the most valuable contribution to science, or in any way for the benefit of mankind."

Woodward is a graduate of M.I.T., where he received an A.B. degree in 1936, and a Ph.D. the following year, at the age of 20. From 1938 to 1941 he was a Junior Fellow here. He joined the faculty in 1947 as an associate professor after working during the War on the government's quinine research project. He became a full professor in 1951.

Ledlie was a St. Louis and New York newspaper executive and an associate of publisher Joseph Pulitzer. When he died, in 1929, Ledlie provided that the income from his estate should go to his sister-in-law until her death and the Ledlie prize after her death. She died in 1949.