Chemistry - Alumni News

“Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid of standing still.” – Japanese proverb

James M. Sugihara turns 100

James M. Sugihara earned the first doctorate degree in Chemistry at the University of Utah in 1947 and this represented one of the first two doctorates granted in the history of the University. Interestingly, the other degree that year went to Ewart Swinyard who later became thedean of the College of Pharmacy at the U.

This year, Sugihara is celebrating another milestone – his 100th birthday. When asked for his secret to longevity,he simply replied, “keep moving.”

And so stepping stones turn intomilestones.

A Brief History

Sugihara holds an important placein the University’s history, as well asUtah’s history.

In 1942, shortly after the bombingof Pearl Harbor, when Sugihara was just24, he and his family were relocatedfrom California to the Topaz Mountaininternment camp in Utah. The family losttheir home and business.

However, Sugihara was granted aleave from Topaz Mountain to pursue aneducation, since he had already earned abachelor’s degree in chemistry at UC-Berkeley in 1939.He enrolled at the U in 1944 and studied chemistry, althoughthere was no graduate school at the time.

In 1946, Sugihara’s 84-page dissertation on “The Reactionsof Mercaptans on Sucrose and Molasses,” included only three

approval signatures: Walter D. Bonner,Lloyd E. Malm and Elton L. Quinn. HenryEyring had not yet started work as deanof the Graduate School by that date.

Sugihara accepted a faculty positionat the U and taught chemistry in Utahuntil 1964. He later moved to NorthDakota State University and becamedean of the College of Science andMathematics. He was named Dean ofthe Graduate School and Director ofResearch in 1974. In 1998, he retired asProfessor Emeritus.

“Scientific progress has movedin ways that one could not expect.Research in genetics has becomeparamount, leading to improvementsin medicine and human health that onecould not imagine just 10 or 20 yearsago,” says Sugihara.

In 2010, the James M. SugiharaScholarship – a permanent namedscholarship – was established in theChemistry Department at the U. Itprovides financial support for an undergraduatewho is studying chemistry andwho is living on campus in the CrockerScience House located on Officers Circlein Fort Douglas.

“I envy today’s students for the wonderful opportunitiesthey have,” says Sugihara.

“I have lived by the principle that one ought to give backmore than they receive,” says Sugihara.

And so stepping stones turn into milestones.