JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS John B. Speakman, D.Sc., F.I.C., F.T.I. 5O3 A EULOGY BY MILTON HARRIS, PH.D.* It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to join my friends and col- leagues on this important occasion. Over the years it has been my privilege to take part in a number of these award ceremonies but none have given me more pleasure nor have filled me with more nostalgia. It was some 30 years ago when as a young chemist embarking on a career in the science of fibers that I had the privilege to make my first trip to Europe. This was a memorable trip from a number of points of view. First, I was on my honeymoon and second, I had the opportunity to visit Leeds University, the fountainhead of wool and keratin research. Since Mrs. Harris isn't here today I suppose I can safely say that the latter was the highpoint of the trip. Most of my visit to Leeds was spent with Professor Speakman who was then the grand old man of wool science--I think he was approxi- mately 34 or 35 years old. Perhaps what I remembered most about my visit, in addition to the wonderful stimulation, was the comment when I told him I was very much interested in the research of wool and hair. His reply (with tongue in cheek which he does very well) was, "Young man why do you want to go into research of wool when we know all about it?" Actually from the point of view of the knowledge of the day he was probably correct. However the effect of that polite needling and leg pulling, plus the inspiration and stimulation of the visit, put me in the position of a famous car rental service--I just had to try harder. Since that first visit I have made approximately 100 visits abroad and over the years I have kept in contact with Dr. Speakman and have also followed the progress of his work. And now some 300 papers and 50 patents later, he might still repeat his first remark to me. But somehow, proud as he is about these contributions, and indeed we are honoring him for these today, there are other accomplish- ments of which I am sure he is equally proud. * Chairman of the Board, American Chemical Society.

504 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS First, he has been a leader and developer of some of the most im- portant ingredients of modern society, the educated man, the teacher, and the scientific researcher. With some 75 advanced degree students and countless others, his record is unsurpassed in the field of textile education. I doubt if there is a major school or research organization concerned with wool or hair that has not been a beneficiary of some of these people. As a matter of fact, a research organization which bears a familiar name, the Harris Research Laboratories, is the proud pos- sessor of five of his Ph.D. students. Perhaps I should mention this with fear and trepidation because today there exists an emotion-packed international problem called the "brain drain" in which the United States is usually cast as the villain. Actually the United States was the beneficiary of Professor Speakman's work and many of his students before anyone ever heard of the politically- sensitive term called the "brain drain." Nonetheless, we will be prudent today and speak softly--we would not like to send our honored guest back to his native land and have him be received as something less than a conquering hero. Without digressing, I do want to submit that the world needs more of this type of "brain drain." In a world of constant strife and poor or no communications in many areas, we in the field of science can proudly point to continued and objective dialogues in many areas and at all levels. In the long run it is my sincere belief that the pattern we are setting in the area of science will become the pattern for international communications between countries. In addition to his contributions in the field of education, his work, as well as that of his students has had a profound effect on two major industries with which many of those here today have been associated the cosmetic industry and the textile industry. Such developments as permanent waving, setting and hair dyeinõ in the cosmetic industry and shrink proofing, bleaching, dyeinõ and many other finishing processes in the textile industry find some roots in much of his work. It is not too many years ago that the cosmetic industry was a purveyor of witches brews and nostrums. Nor was it too many years ago that the textile industries were largely family-held craft organizations devoid of science as we know it today. Today they are gigantic industries which boast of large research and development organizations that compare in scientific and technological sophistication with many modern industries. We as technical people can be justly proud of them