Lifetime of achievement leaves lasting legacy
Some people who spent a lifetime giving to others keep giving even when they’re no longer with us. Larry Hench, B.S. ’61, PhD ’64, contributed enormously to our body of knowledge during his lifetime. Now, students are able to pursue studies in materials science and engineering thanks to scholarships that bear his name.
“The breadth of Larry’s contributions to the field of ceramics is astounding,” said Peter Anderson, chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “His doctoral thesis is just one of nearly 100 books or volumes he’s authored that are held in Ohio State’s libraries.”
The topics range from kidney stone formation to building better bones to radioactive waste disposal. Among the many titles, his book, Bioceramics and the Origin of Life, reflects Hench’s vast interests and contributions. His important contributions were recognized by several university awards, including the Distinguished Alumnus Lecturer in Materials Science & Engineering (1991), the Benjamin G. Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal (1999), and the Professional Achievement Award by The Ohio State University Alumni Association (2007). He was a founder and past president of the Society for Biomaterials and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Over the course of his career, Hench held appointments at the University of Florida, Imperial College London, and the Florida Institute of Technology. Most of Hench’s research focused on glasses, especially for biological applications. He is best known for having discovered Bioglass, the first synthetic material that bonds to living tissues.
Professor and Chair Emeritus George St. Pierre noted, that, “Larry Hench was the bright star in a thermodynamics course I taught many years ago to sophomores majoring in ceramics and metallurgy. It was clear that he would invigorate the field with brilliant innovations.”
Professor Emeritus Charles Drummond said, “I first met Larry as a graduate student at Ohio State. He has always been a very supportive person, grateful for what Ohio State gave him. His career has taken many directions including children's books. He was a fantastic salesman and promoter of the application of biomaterials. His public lectures offered provocative and interesting approaches to materials. In short, a fabulous scientist and outstanding individual.”
The story of Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat reveals a deep, inner character about Hench. “This is embodied in the character Professor George, who helps cheer up a boy who would like to have a pet cat but is allergic to them,” Anderson explained. “Professor George deploys all sorts of technology to build an allergy-free, bionic cat for the boy. His love for science is balanced by a desire to apply it to help others.” Along the way, Professor George apologizes to his wife for the sacrifices – including quick dinners and late-working nights. Indeed, the story about Professor George is a story about Hench and his life-long passion to use science to help others.
That passion continues in the form of the Larry Hench Scholarship Fund. Established April 7, 2017, with an estate gift from Hench, the fund is used to support an award for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. To make a donation to the fund, visit https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=643115. To learn more about how you can invest in Ohio State through your estate plan, please contact Kevin Readey, associate director of development, at readey.5@osu.edu or 614-316-3382.
