Orthomolecular Medicine Hall of Fame

Inducted 2021

Although his early focus was on analytical chemistry and spectrophotoluminescence he began researching selenium and other antioxidants in 1959. In 1962, he discovered antioxidant synergism (US patent 6,090,414), and it is believed that reports of his research in 1970-71 in the lay press introduced the public to the words “free radical”, “antioxidant”, and “selenium”.

He was Director, Research Analytics Laboratories at Allied Chemical Corporation (Marcus Hook, PA), Director, Applications Research Laboratory at Baxter-Travenol Laboratories (Silver Spring, MD), Vice President of Research for the American Gerontological Research Laboratories Division of Life Science Labs (Rockville, MD), Director of the Solgar Nutritional Research  Center, and Vice President of Research and Development for Solgar Vitamin & Herb Company. Additionally, in the early 1970s, he was the first nutrition advisor to a National Football League team, and was also a nutrition advisor to the professional boxer and humanitarian, Muhammad Ali.

In 1975, his first book for the general public, Super-Nutrition: Megavitamin Revolution, was a #4 national best seller, and has been credited with legitimizing megavitamin therapy. More than 45 books, over 600 articles, and over 7,000 radio shows on nutrition followed. He served as WholeFoods Magazine’s science editor for 36 years, and continues to contribute to its “Vitamin Connection” column which he created. He has also been on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Nutrition, and has been cited 39 times in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine.

He received the nutrition industry’s Achievement Award (1989), National Nutrition Foods Association’s Presidents Award (1999), James Lind Scientific Achievement Award (2004), John Peter Zenger Free Press Award for writing (2004), and was twice honored by the Committee for World Health (1978 & 1980). He also was voted Citizen of the Year by his community (Ocean Pines, Maryland, 1987), and was voted into the Delmarva Firefighter’s Hall of Fame (1993). He considers his continuing marriage to Barbara Gayhart since 1964 to be the best thing that ever happened to him. Two children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren followed.