Gordon B. Johnson ’43

GORDON DIED May 14, 1992, at his home in Sea Ranch, Calif., of lung cancer and a heart attack, following a long illness. He was 71.

Gordon was with our Class for only a year] 93940. He then had to transfer to the Univ. of Arizona for health reasons. He received his undergraduate degree and, ultimately, his Ph.D. from U. of A., and also did postgraduate work in organic chemistry at Brooklyn Polytech Institute.

For a quarter of I century, 19471972, Gordon was employed as a research chemist and senior research associate at Chevron Research Company in Richmond, Calif. He also spent a year in New York doing market research, and another year in Milan, Italy, supervising a cooperative research project on synthetic fibers.

Gordon's chief claim to fame was his invention of astroturf for athletic fields; he often expressed regret at his discovery because of the injuries to players it caused. in all, lie field 35 patents in a wide range of fields: plastics, fibers, synthetic detergents, and germicides.

Gordon never married. His survivors include a brother, Charles A. Johnson, and a sister, Mrs. Ruth Hosmer.

To them, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies.

The Class of 1943