Tag: UO Alumni
Evan Darzi (left) with Prof. Jasti in the lab at UO
On June 13, during the NCAA Track & Field Championship in Eugene, the “Lame Ducks” held their yearly reunion. These University of Oregon runners from the 1950s and ’60s were coached by the legendary Bill Bowerman and gather annually to reconnect.
The reunion was organized by Chemistry Department alumni Jerry Christian and held at the home of Roscoe Divine. Jerry Christian ran for Bowerman alongside notable teammates including Bill Dellinger, Jim Bailey, Jim Grelle, and Otis Davis. His twin brother, Gary Christian, is also a Chemistry Department graduate and former runner. Jerry used to run relays with Phil Knight, the founder of Nike who was also part of this distinguished group. While Phil Knight attended the 2024 reunion, he missed this year.
Host Roscoe Divine made his mark as a senior, ranking second for the Ducks with a 3:56.3 mile that famously beat Steve Prefontaine—making him one of the only runners to accomplish this feat. His sub-4-minute mile still ranks him fifth all-time for the Ducks.
Victor Reeve is another Chemistry Department graduate who attended class of 1963. Reeve ran on the Oregon 4-mile relay team that shattered the world record by 15 seconds in 1962, and Keith Forman, who also broke the 4-minute mile barrier with a 3:58.3 in 1962 under Coach Bowerman. Another Lame Duck chemistry major is Doug Basham ’57, who passed away in 2010.
“Doug was a ferocious hurdler,” said Jerry.
Brothers Gary and Jerry Christian along with Abe Perlstein and Martin Ovitz, started the Kuntz-Swinehart Scholarship in honor of professors Adolf Kuntz and Donald Swinehart, whose instruction, influence, and inspiration had a significant impact on their career paths.
article and photos: Vanessa Salvia
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar
2025 Alumni Achievement Award
Jeremiah Marsden, Former President Cascade Chemistry & Owner, Claim 52 Brewing
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 • 3:15 pm
Beetham Family Seminar Room, Knight Campus, Room 127
Event hosts: Vickie DeRose and Mike Haley
4:15-5:oo pm • Light Refreshments
From Bench to Boardroom to Brewery
As a student it can be difficult to picture where your degree will take you. This talk provides a story of opportunities taken and lessons learned in growing and selling a successful chemistry business.
Melissa Edwards, BA Chemistry, Class of 1989 – appointed chief executive for PeaceHealth Medical Group
Carey Fristoe, BS Chemistry, Class of 2012 – Black Spruce Brewery selected as best Microbrewery/Distillery in 2024 News-Miner Readers Choice Awards
August Droege, PhD Chemistry, Class of 1984 – Moorhead High School To Recognize New Hall Of Honor Members October 5
Alum William D. Brewer, BA Chemistry 1965, shares that since his last update to UO Chemistry and Biochemistry news he has published two books, both scientific biographies: the first on the life of Brazilian physicist Jayme Tiomno: A Life for Science, a Life for Brazil (2020, with Alfredo Tolmasquim) and the second on mathematical genius Kurt Gödel: The Genius of Metamathematics (2022, German edition 2024).
Brewer currently works transcribing and translating Albert Einstein’s papers for the Einstein Papers Project, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
UO Chemistry and Biochemistry alum Micah Donor has been awarded the American Society for Mass Spectrometry’s 2024 Research at PUIs Award. The award recognizes research in mass spectrometry conducted by faculty and students at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI).
Donor conducted his doctoral research in the Prell lab and is currently an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon.