- Biographical Note:
- William R. Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. Began employment with North Carolina State College as Chemical Laboratory Instructor in 1959. Subsequently became a supervisor of freshman laboratories and later was assigned to teaching General Chemistry courses and to developing lecture-demonstrations. Professor Billy Johnston was charged by Dr. Ralph Swann, then head of the Department of Chemistry, with developing "lecture-demonstrations with as many lights flashing and bells ringing as could be worked in properly" for Chemistry 111. The popular lecture-demonstrations became widely used in all General Chemistry courses to emphasize points and principles. Professor Johnston also presented lecture-demonstrations for Parents' Day, High School Day, Science Fairs and special school groups both on campus and others schools. The last three years of Professor Johnston's career at NCSU combined teaching CH 111 and advising in lecture-demonstrations for his colleagues. His goal in CH 111 "was to teach as much chemistry as possible without boring non-technical students, and, at the same time, keep demonstrations rigorously within the context of the course in order to avoid an atmosphere of 'fun and games.'" Was the model for the statue "The Strolling Professor," sculpted by J. Seward Johnson.
- Birth Date:
- 1912
- Death Date:
- 2000
