IN MEMORIAM

IN MEMORIAM

Clyde Junior Stormont

Professor of Immunogenetics, Emeritus

Davis

1916—2002

 

Clyde Stormont was a member of the founding faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine and served with distinction until he became emeritus in 1982. He was born in Wisconsin on June 25, 1916 to Clyde James Stormont and Lula Elizabeth Mathews. He attended high school in Viola, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1938. He continued his studies as a graduate student in genetics at the University of Wisconsin and was a research assistant in the immunogenetics laboratory of the Department of Genetics. His graduate studies were interrupted in 1944 to 1946 as a commissioned officer, Ensign, LT. (jg), in the U.S. Navy Reserve with service in the Pacific Theater in World War II. He received a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Wisconsin in 1947 and was appointed assistant professor of genetics there in 1948. He was selected for a Fulbright Scholarship in New Zealand 1949-50 and on return from New Zealand joined the faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis as assistant professor of veterinary science and assistant serologist in the Experiment Station.

 

Stormont developed his research field of serology and immunogenetics during its early forming period and rapidly pioneered advances on many fronts. His early work led to the elucidation of the 12 blood group systems in cattle, followed by the description of eight genetic systems of red blood cell antigens and their antibodies in horses. He organized the serology laboratory to serve the cattle breed organizations and industries and equine breed groups to develop data bases for individual identification and marking for purposes of inheritance studies and reference to genetic disease abnormality patterns. World recognized scientific peers state in his dossier “It is no exaggeration to state that Stormont is the indisputable authority on cattle and horse blood groups, that he has worldwide recognition for his contribution to the study of blood groups and biochemical genetics of other farm animal species as well, and that he has, through his publications and training of younger colleagues in his laboratory, had a larger influence on the development of this branch of genetics than any other person in this field.”

 

Indeed, in addition to his research accomplishments, Stormont’s contributions in education centered on his graduate and post-doctoral students who, through training in his laboratory and his influence, populated animal immunogenetics science throughout the world.

 

A measure of Stormon’s recognition and renown includes election to honors and receipt of awards such as:

 

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Honoris Causa - MVDr. H.C. Czech Republic, 1994
• Louis Pasteur Medallion, Pasteur Institute, Paris, 1953
• Lifetime membership in the Dairy Shrine Club, 1963
• President, Davis Chapter of Society of Sigma Xi, 1972-73, secretary 1951-1953
• Elected into the Bison Hall of Fame in 1994 by the National Buffalo Association for “Valuable Contribution to Bison Conservation and Breeding”
• Elected to honorary membership in the National Buffalo Association in 1975 and to honorary membership in the International Society for Animal Blood Group Research
• Inducted into the Equine Research Hall of Fame, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 1990
• Ellen B. Scripps Fellowship, Zoological Society of San Diego, 1957, 1964-66
• Received first Director’s Award in 1979 from the Arabian Horse Registry of America Inc., for “Valuable Contribution to the Horse Industry Through the Development of Equine Blood Typing”

 

Professor Stormont, as one of the founding members, played a very distinguished role in forming excellent programs in veterinary immunogenetics which have continuing and growing importance and strength in the School.

 

He is survived by Marguerite, his wife of 62 years; his brother Charles; his children, Bonnie, Michael, Robert, Charles and Janet; and his grandson, Clyde Jr.

 

William Pritchard

Irwin Liu

Edward Rhode