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William J. Dreyer ’52

William Jakob Dreyer ’52, April 23, 2004, in Pasadena, California, after a long illness. William received a bachelor’s degree from Reed in mathematics, and a doctorate in biochemistry in 1956 from the University of Washington. He was a research biochemist for six years at the National Heart Institute and National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Disease, leaving in 1963 to join the Caltech faculty as professor of biology. His innovative research as a molecular immunologist, and his support of technology, were instrumental in the rise of the biotech industry. Of his 21 patents, that of an automated protein sequencer was most critical to co-founding Applied Biosystems with his graduate student, Lee Hood. He married Mary Schrick in 1952, and they had three daughters. Survivors include his wife, Janet, his daughters, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Appeared in Reed magazine: November 2004