Dr. Davis was one of the world’s foremost catalysis scientists of our time and an intellect holding a prolific scholarly track records. He was a constant source of humorous tales. As an investigator, Associate Director and Interim Director of CAER, University of Kentucky, he enjoyed a highly successful career, being widely recognized as the ultimate authority on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. He had a hobby of collecting research on the greatest scientists of our time and travelled all over the world to interview them. He made contributions to not only science and technology but our lives. He was an excellent mentor and a wonderful friend you could always count on. He led us by example instilling integrity, and inspired us with his perseverance and good nature. His excitement for research was contagious. He was a very caring family man proud of his family. He received his BS in chemistry from West Virginia University, MS from St. Joseph’s University and PhD from University of Florida. He worked under Paul Emmett as a post-doctorate researcher at the Johns Hopkins University. He worked at Mobil where he discovered a Pt-catalyst for high-octane gasoline. After teaching at Potomac State College as a professor, he followed his passion for research, and started working at the CAER where he created a groundbreaking research program that involved both academic and cooperative research in coal liquefaction, corrosion in organic media, catalysis, FT synthesis, hydrocracking, reforming, materials science and organic analysis. He established a laboratory with capabilities in the use of radioactive and stable isotopes for reaction mechanism studies and materials characterization. He led the installation and operation of a 1/4 ton per day direct coal liquefaction pilot plant and 3.7-liter slurry column reactor. He authored over 850 publications and 10 patents. He was an ACS Fellow. He was awarded four Elsevier most-cited author awards, an Industrial Scientist award by the Kentucky Academy of Science, the prestigious Henry H. Storch Award and the Distinguished Researcher Award by ACS, the Founders’ Award and Synfuels Award by Tri-State Catalysis Society, the Distinguished Service Award by the NACS and the “Distinguished West Virginian Award” by the Governor. He was a veteran of the Korean War attached to the 101th Airborne division, a famous Army division at the center of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, though he did not see combat in Korea simply by chance.

In memory of a great scientist Dr. Burtron H. Davis

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.