SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 82
In Memory
of
Lester J. Reed
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
commemorates the life of noted chemist and researcher Lester J.
Reed, who died January 14, 2015, at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, Lester Reed was born on January 3, 1925, in New
Orleans, Louisiana; he was drawn to a life in science at an early
age after his sister gave him a chemistry set, and he went on to
earn a bachelor's degree from Tulane University and a doctoral
degree in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign; and
WHEREAS, He met Janet Gruschow while pursuing postdoctoral
studies at the Cornell University Medical School, and they
married on August 7, 1948; they raised four children together and
were blessed with two grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Reed joined the chemistry faculty at The
University of Texas at Austin in 1948; over the course of his
distinguished 53-year career at the university, he served as a
mentor to countless scientists and scholars around the world, and
in 1984, he was named the Ashbel Smith Professor; and
WHEREAS, His groundbreaking work and publications on the
first isolation of lipoic acid had a profound impact on the
treatment of chronic liver disease, and he was recognized
internationally for his scientific brilliance; he served as
director of the Clayton Foundation Biochemical Institute for
more than 30 years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Reed's numerous honors for his work include
the Eli Lilly and Company Award in Biological Chemistry from
the American Chemical Society and the Merck Award from the
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; he
was elected to membership in the National Academy of
Sciences, and he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences; and
WHEREAS, He was a man of strength, wisdom, and integrity
who gave unselfishly to others; his generous spirit and his
enthusiasm for living each day to the fullest will not be
forgotten; and
WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather,
and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured forever by all
who were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
family of Lester J. Reed; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
memory of Lester J. Reed.
Watson
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 2, 2015, by
a rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate