Percy L. Julian

Who

Percy Lavon Julian (1899–1975) first synthesized physostigmine in 1935, at DePauw. As research director at Glidden (1936–1953) he developed soy-based products and inexpensive industrial routes to steroid hormones, then founded Julian Laboratories in 1953. He held more than 130 patents, received the Spingarn Medal in 1947, and in 1973 became the first African American chemist elected to the National Academy of Sciences.