Sheldon D. Murphy (1933–1990)

IN MEMORIAM Sheldon D. Murphy (1933-l 990) Sheldon Murphy, a native of South Dakota, received his B.S. in Pharmacy “with highest honors” from South Dakota State University in 1955. In 1958 he received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Chicago where his mentor was Kenneth Dubois. another South Dakotan. His thesis research made a pioneering contribution to the toxicology of the organophosphate pesticides and pesticides became a major focus in his subsequent distinguished career. From 1958 to 1963 he was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. serving as Chief, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section of the Division of Air Pollution in Cincinnati. His research activities made fundamental contributions to the newly evolving application of sensitive physiological methods to the quantitative evaluation of respiratory effects of air pollutants on laboratory rodents. In 1963 he joined the faculty of Harvard School of Public Health. where he remained for the next 14 years. In addition to an active research program in biochemical toxicology, he established a doctoral and postdoctoral training program in toxicology. In 1977. he moved to the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where he was Professor of Toxicology and Director, Division of Toxicology. In 1983, he accepted the Chairmanship of the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine. His strong and sensitive leadership leaves the legacy of an excellent and stable department in both research and teaching. His expertise was widely sought and freely given. He served on many advisory committees for NIEHS. EPA, NAS-NRC, WHO, NIOSH. and Health Effects Institute, and was a founding organizer of the International Union of Toxicology. He was a charter member of SOT and was President 1974-I 975. He continued to serve SOT as Chairman of the Nominating Committee (1976-1977). member of the Past Presidents Task Force ( 1982- 1984), member of the Nominating Committee ( 1986- 1987). and member of the Ethics Committee (1985-1987). The Society gave appropriate recognition to his ability. He received the Achievement Award in 1970, the Education Award in 1979. Distinguished Fellow in 198 I. and the Merit Award in 1990. The supporting letters for the Merit Award nomination spoke of what Sheldon had meant to the writers as well as of his scientific achievements. He had complete integrity. tolerance. understanding. and humor. To have been his academic colleague was both a pleasure and a privilege. Teaching was to him a pleasure. not a chore. He assessed the strengths and weaknesses of his students and gave the specific personal guidance needed to bring out the very best in each. He stayed in touch and was proud of their achievements as they developed their own professional careers. The 1990 Miami Meeting was a wonderful one for Sheldon and Donna and gave to many a treasured last remembrance of Sheldon. MARYAMDLIR JOHN DOIILL