Inventory to the Percy Lavon Julian Family Papers

  Archives Homepage

Percy Lavon Julian Family Papers
Series III: Folder 11
Julian Memorial Lecture: Charles Allen West
April 16, 1987

     Dr. Charles A. West is a native of Greencastle, the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth E. West. In 1949 he was graduated with a major in chemistry from DePauw University, where he was honored as a Rector Scholar and by election to Phi Beta Kappa. He continued his academic pursuits ant the University of Illinois, where her received the Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1952. His research professor at Illinois was Dr. Herbert E. Carter, a DePauw graduate of 1930. Both Dr. West (1981) and his research mentor, Dr. Carter, (1952) are recipients of the honorary D. Sc. degree from their alma mater.

     While a student at DePauw, he held many campus positions. In 1949 he served as president of the Chemistry Club, Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Gold Key, and the "D" association. "Charlie" was a basketball and track star during his four years and in 1949 at the Little State Track Meet won the only DePauw Blue Ribbon when he captured the half-mile race. He was known as the "DePauw Human Machine."

     In 1952 Dr. West joined the faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA); and except for a year of service with the U.S. Army in the Clinical Chemistry Section at Fort Baker (1953-1954), his entire academic career has been at UCLA. He was elevated to the rank of Professor of Chemistry in 1967 and served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry from 1981-1984. At present he is a member of the Committee on Teaching for the University Academic Senate. His teaching duties have included courses in Biochemistry; Enzymes, Metabolism, and Regulation; and Bioorganic Structures and Reactions. His success as a teacher was recognized in 1972 when the UCLA Alumni Association presented him with a Distinguished Teaching Award. An Alumni Citation by DePauw in 1974 was also a recognition of his outstanding record as a teacher.

     Dr. West, as was true for Dr. Percy Julian, has conducted his research program in the study of natural products. His research interests have been and are at present in the areas of growth regulation of higher plants, natural plant hormones, and fungi infections. Specifically, a part of his research, in his own words, has "contributed to the current understanding of pathways and enzymes that participate in the biosynthesis of a family of diterpenoid plant growth regulators, the gibberellins."

     Professor West has been the recipient of a number of research awards including a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for study with Professor Feodor Lynen at the Max Planck Institut fur Zellchemie in Munich, Germany (1961-1962); and in 1968-1969 he held a U.S. Public Health Service Special Postdoctoral Fellowship for study with Dr. J. W. Cornforth at the Milstead Laboratory for Chemical Enzymology, Sittingbourne, Kent, England. In 1976-1977, as the recipient of a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellowship, further study was made possible with Professor Peter Albersheim at the University of Colorado.

     Professor West has maintained a busy life as an invited lecturer at symposiums and seminars around the world. In November, 1985, he served as a consultant to the Department of chemistry of Zhongshau University in Guangzhou, the Peoples Republic of China, where he assisted in planning for a new biochemistry teaching and research program. He has guided the research studies of 24 Ph.D. candidates and has had 17 postdoctoral collaborators study with him at UCLA. His research activities have been published in 69 research and review articles in scientific journals.

     Dr. West is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Biological Chemistry, the American Society of Plant Physiologists, and Sigma Xi. He is the 1986-87 President of the UCLA Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity. At present he is a member of the Board of Editors for the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics and for the journal Plant Physiology.

     In 1952 Dr. West was married to Miss Carol Venerable, and they are the parents of two sons.

     Charles A. West, honored son of DePauw University, has won international recognition for his many contributions to scientific research. In addition, he is a dedicated teacher with a high commitment to the teaching profession. DePauw and the greater Greencastle community are proud to welcome home tonight this outstanding graduate and native son.