Weston W. Haskell *57

Wes died March 4, 2022, in Port Angeles, Texas, two weeks before his 94th birthday.

He was born in Orange, N.J., served in the Army, did undergraduate studies at Duke, and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at Princeton. 

Wes was a research scientist for Shell Oil in Chester, England, and various locations throughout the U.S., spending most of his career in Houston. After 36 years with Shell, he founded Haskell Pharmaceuticals and continued his passion for research. Wes discovered that green pecan shucks contained an antiseptic property that could fight against MRSA. He obtained a $40,000 grant for Methodist Hospital Lab Houston to conduct clinical trials on his discovery, but he was not able to obtain further sponsorship from DARPA. Ironically, he contracted this deadly infection during the last days of his life.

Wes had a vivid imagination and wrote books of fiction including Mendocino Chapter and An Interesting Companion. He became president of the Houston Art Society and judged several science and engineering fairs. He loved the sea and sailed his yacht in Galveston Bay. 

Wes is survived by his third wife, Kathryn, whom he married at age 87; his sons Patrick and Walter; and four grandchildren.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.