F. Albert Cotton, a distinguished professor of chemistry designated as the "preeminent inorganic chemist in the world" and credited with helping turn Texas A&M into a research university, died Tuesday. He was 76.
Cotton came to A&M in 1972 as the Robert A. Welch Professor of Chemistry, and was named a distinguished professor a year later.
He was a leading mind in his field, in addition to being paramount in the evolution of A&M into a first-rate research university, said H. Joseph Newton, dean of the College of Science.
"I knew him as a chemistry professor, and I had known of him for years because of his work," Newton said.
Newton said the label of being the greatest inorganic chemist in the world is certainly true. As the author of five books, which were printed in 40 languages, and more than 1,600 publications, he was an extraordinary scholar.
"Intellectually, he was phenomenal," Newton said.
Other chemistry professors echoed Newton's opinion of Cotton.
"His intellect was outstanding and he was a wonderful writer," said John Fackler, a distinguished professor of chemistry who knew Cotton when he was a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "He could write an article in three or four days that would take someone else three or four weeks to write."
Besides his work, Cotton helped a great deal in bringing professors and researchers to the University, both Fackler and Newton said.
"A fair number of people who have made an impact on the chemistry world came to A&M because of him," Fackler said.
Cotton left MIT - where he was the youngest faculty member to attain the status of full professor - to join the faculty of A&M. "Many people were surprised that he would leave MIT," Fackler said.
"He proved that he could get research done well here, to the skeptics, including myself, and that A&M could be a quality research institution," he said.
Cotton was awarded the National Medal of Science, the Priestly Medal (the highest honor given by the American Chemical Society) and the Wolf Prize, which is on par with the Nobel Prize. The committee that selected the winner of the Wolf Prize said in its decision that Cotton was the "preeminent inorganic chemist in the world."
Cotton has received more awards than any other faculty member in A&M history.
As a professor, Cotton supervised the work of 116 graduate students, including 67 from A&M, who earned their doctorates - a record for the University.
"Al Cotton is a legendary figure at Texas A&M," Robert M. Gates, former president of A&M, said in a statement. "From my first day on campus, I knew how important he was to Texas A&M. This is indeed a sad day in the history of the University."
Ed Davis, interim president of A&M, said in a statement that he arrived at A&M the same year as Cotton.
"(His) contributions to the scholarship of inorganic chemistry have been enormous over the intervening 35 years," he said.
Fackler said Cotton's death is a "big loss" for A&M.
Cotton is survived by Diane, his wife of 47 years, and daughters Jennifer and Jane.
In an interview conducted years ago, Cotton said he was passionate and driven to discover new things and mentor students.
"Maybe I was born with a lot of energy, because I still love what I'm doing, and seeing my students walk across the stage and get their degrees still give me a big kick. That's the part I never get tired of."
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