82R25202 JGH-D
By: Anderson of McLennan H.R. No. 2235
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge came to
an end with the death of eminent scientist and professor F. Gordon
A. Stone of Waco on April 6, 2011, at the age of 85; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Stone was born on May 9, 1925, in Exeter,
England; he studied chemistry at Cambridge University, earning his
bachelor's degree in 1948 and his doctorate in 1952, and he went on
to serve as a postdoctoral assistant at the University of Southern
California under the Fulbright Program; he subsequently joined the
faculty of the chemistry department at Harvard University,
attaining the rank of assistant professor; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1960s, Dr. Stone returned to England to
accept a post as the first chair of inorganic chemistry at Bristol
University, and his career there spanned nearly three decades; he
continued his teaching and research at Baylor University, which he
joined in 1990 as the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor of
Chemistry, before retiring at the age of 85 in 2010; and
WHEREAS, An internationally recognized expert in the field of
organometallic chemistry, Professor Stone coauthored more than 750
primary scientific articles and gave lectures around the globe; he
was named one of the 100 most cited chemists in the world by the
Institute for Scientific Information; and
WHEREAS, Professor Stone was elected to the Royal Society,
London, in 1976, and in 1990 he was made a Commander of the Order of
the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth; in addition, he earned the
highest awards of the major academic chemical societies in Britain
and the United States, and he received a number of honorary degrees
from universities in Europe and North America; the American
Chemical Society published his scientific autobiography, Leaving
No Stone Unturned, in 1993; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman enjoyed the love and support
of his wife, the former Judith Hislop, for 52 years until her death
in 2008; together they were blessed with three sons, James, Peter,
and Derek, as well as seven grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, When not traveling the world, Professor Stone and
his wife divided their time between their homes in Bristol,
England, and Waco; the couple were renowned for their warmth and
hospitality, frequently hosting guests for a meal or an overnight
stay; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Stone lived a life of extraordinary
achievement, and he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to
inspire all those who were privileged to know him; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of F. Gordon A. Stone
and extend sincere condolences to his family: to his sons, James,
Peter, and Derek Stone; to his seven grandchildren; and to his other
relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gordon
Stone.