E.V. McCollum: doyen of nutrition science.

he year 1979 marks the centennial of the birth of Elmer Verner McCollum. He was born on a Kansas farm homesteaded by his father in 1863 and received his academic training in chemistry at the University of Kansas and at Yale University. As a member of the faculty of the College of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin from 1907 to 1917, he gained widespread attention for his pathfinding discoveries in experimental nutrition. From 1917 until his retirement in 1944 he was Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Hygiene and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University where his continuing achievements in research, stimulating leadership in nutrition education, imaginative influence on the food industry and wisdom in the formulation of public policy regarding foods and nutrition gave him unusual distinction and international acclaim. At Kansas the faculty member most influencing young McCollum was Edward Bartow; at Yale it was Lafayette B. Mendel; and at Wisconsin it was clearly Stephen M. Babcock. At Johns Hopkins, Edwards A. Park was his most stimulating colleague and very close friend.