In Memoriam Maurice (Mo) Williams, 1933 - 2020

doi:10.1515/ci-2020-0316

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In Memoriam Maurice (Mo) Williams, 1933 - 2020

Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 16. Juli 2020

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Aus der Zeitschrift Chemistry International Band 42 Heft 3

Abstract

Mo Williams passed away peacefully on 17 April 2020, aged 87 years. Beloved husband of Patricia, a much-loved father and grandfather.

For three decades, Mo was known as Mr. IUPAC. Mo was the first professional IUPAC Executive Secretary, establishing the Secretariat in Oxford, UK, in April 1968 and retiring in 1997.

Mo was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. He graduated BSc in chemistry at Birmingham University in 1953, and went on to earn a PhD in Ron Belcher’s eminent School of Analytical Chemistry under the joint supervision of Belcher and (then) Tom West. Leaving Birmingham University in 1956, he spent two years in ICI Metals Division’s Research and Development Department, which was much concerned at that time with the analysis of new metals like titanium, zirconium, and beryllium, and their alloys. In 1959 he moved to become lecturer in analytical chemistry at Birmingham College of Advanced Technology, which is now the University of Aston. While there, he became Editor-in-chief of Robert Maxwell’s international analytical chemistry journal Talanta. His qualities were recognized by Maxwell, who offered him the post of managing editor of learned journals at Oxford, which he accepted from the start of 1966. When he was offered the opportunity to become the first professional IUPAC Executive Secretary in April 1968, he accepted provided that the office could be in Oxford.

Mo Williams was undoubtedly “the right person at the right time” to organize the IUPAC Secretariat and handle all details with meticulous care over 29 years. Following his retirement, during the 39th Council meeting at Geneva (29–30 August 1997), IUPAC’s President, Albert Fischli, presented to Mo a silver salver with the signatures of all the 15 Presidents of IUPAC under whom he served. In his reply, Mo said that, despite the inevitable ups and downs, overall the 29 years had been an exciting time and a privilege to serve as the Union’s Executive Secretary. In addition to working under 15 Presidents, there had been six Secretaries General and five Treasurers, and he had made countless friends throughout the world. The growth in work for the Secretariat was reflected in the fact that only two Commission reports were published in Pure and Applied Chemistry during 1968, but there would be over 50 in 1997. Fortunately, he had been supported throughout by excellent colleagues: besides the three secretaries present at Geneva, two others had remained at Oxford, and there had been exceptional backing from Ann Troughton (Assistant Executive Secretary) for 20 years and from Mike Freemantle (Information Officer/Affiliate Affairs Secretary) for nine years. Williams offered his best wishes to John W. Jost for the wider development of electronic services at the new Secretariat in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Twenty years has passed since Mo retired, but his marks are still present as evoked in these spontaneous echoes received at the announcement of his passing:

“Mo was actually the soul and the stability of IUPAC during his time in office. It was really a pleasure and a privilege to work with him. “

“It is with great regret that I learned about the sad news of Mo Williams passing away. I knew Mo Williams since the General Assembly, held in Munich (1973); he was such a kind and highly professional person. In fact, Mo and Anne Troughton made an excellent team at the IUPAC Secretariat in Oxford. I also have fond memories of the Bureau meetings, held at Hawkwell House, Oxford. Mo Williams was a keen golf-player. He always spoke fondly of the golf he played at the Pretoria Country Club during his visit to South Africa, Mo Williams was a great gentleman and a true friend.”

“Mo Williams was a gentleman. I met him many years ago, I cannot remember when. At the same time, he was the “housekeeper” of IUPAC, the spirit of IUPAC, and somehow the soul of IUPAC. A true memory for all like me who stayed only for a short period of time at the head of the Union…I shall remember a very nice man.”

“I knew Mo well when IUPAC was based in Oxford. He was a lovely man and did a super job for IUPAC. I would like his family to know that I am so sorry to learn of his leaving us, and that he will be remembered fondly.”

Online erschienen: 2020-07-16

Erschienen im Druck: 2020-07-01

©2020 IUPAC & De Gruyter. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. For more information, please visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ci-2020-0316