William Schmidt, professor emeritus of chemistry at George Washington University, died Jan. 26, 2017, at the age of 96.

After serving in the Army in World War II, Schmidt graduated from GWU in 1950. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton in 1953, and that year joined the faculty at GWU, where he was affiliated for more than 50 years.

At GWU, he taught analytical chemistry and conducted electrochemical research. He became professor emeritus in 1991. Schmidt served as secretary of an American Chemical Society analytical committee for 40 years.

An avid hiker, Schmidt was active with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. He was also a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts and a founding member of the Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church.

In 1997, Schmidt was predeceased by Dorothy, his wife of 50 years. He is survived by five children, eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.