ObituaryGerard ‘Gerry’ Dobson
Submitted on Thursday, October 19, 2023
Gerard ‘Gerry’ Dobson, 90, of Lewisville, Professor Emeritus of chemistry who taught
at UNT from 1969 to 1999, died Sept. 26. He studied at Cornell University and Florida
Southern College and taught mathematics in Pennsylvania public schools while obtaining
a master’s degree from Temple University. He earned a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry
at Florida State University. He was on the chemistry faculties at the University of
Georgia and the University of South Dakota before joining UNT, from which he retired
as a Regents Professor of chemistry. He received the first Toulouse Scholar award
at UNT, which recognizes the excellent teaching and scholarly/creative achievements
of members of the graduate faculty. He wrote 150 research publications in the areas
of organometallic chemistry, chemical kinetics and chemical education and was a member
of the editorial advisory board of the Inorganic Chemistry journal. A U.S. Army veteran,
he was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, a professional chemistry fraternity, and served
as its national president and as editor of its magazine. He received its highest award
for service to the organization and the chemical profession. He also had been a scoutmaster
and Explorer advisor with Boy Scouts of America and was a member of Lewisville Masonic
Lodge No. 201.