
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 13, 1994                   TAG: 9401130180
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR AT W&L DIES AT 59

George Whitney, an organic-chemistry professor at Washington and Lee University for more than 30 years, died Tuesday at age 59.

"He had an enthusiasm for the study of organic chemistry that was simply contagious, for both the students and . . . colleagues," said Lou Hedges, a W&L professor of applied ethics.

William Watt, another chemistry professor, said Whitney always was eager to inspire his students, assisting them in research projects and providing extra help.

Whitney received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Colorado, a doctorate from Northwestern University and was a Fulbright Fellow at Erlangen University in the former West Germany and the Free University of Berlin.

In 1970, Whitney received a Sloan-Washington and Lee Fellowship Grant and went to the University of Bristol in England to do research and present a paper on free radical additions.

For the special attention given to his students and his achievements in chemistry research, Whitney was awarded the William Webb Pusey III Award in May.

Whitney also played cello in the University-Rockbridge Symphony Orchestra and supported the arts in the Lexington community.

"Even when he was very ill this fall, George continued to attend artistic events," Watt said.

by CNB