ELMER SAMUEL IMES

Imes (1883-1941) was born in Memphis, Tennessee, earning a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Michigan in 1918, thus becoming the second African American to earn a Ph.D. in Physics. (The first was Edward Bouchet from Yale University in 1876). After working as a chemist and research physicist for corporations during the 1920s, Imes served as Professor of Physics and Head of the Physics Department at Fisk University from 1930 until his death in 1941.

SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON

Jackson (1946- ) was born in Washington, D.C. and earned her Ph.D. in 1973, becoming the first African American female to receive a doctorate in Theoretical Solid State physics from MIT. She was a Research Associate in Theoretical Physics at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. From 1976 to 1991 Dr. Jackson was appointed as Professor of Physics at Rutgers University, and in 1995 was appointed Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She was named the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1999.

KATHERINE G. JOHNSON

Johnson(1918- ) was born in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and became an Aerospace Technologist at the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. Trained as a mathematician and physicist at West Virginia State College, she worked on problems relating to interplanetary trajectories, space navigation, and the orbits of spacecraft such as the Earth Resources Satellite, which helped locate underground minerals and other earth resources. Johnson analyzed data gathered by tracking stations around the world during the Apollo moon missions. For her pioneering work in the field of space navigation, she was the recipient of the Group Achievement Award presented to NASA's Lunar Spacecraft and Operations team. Johnson was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from SUNY Farmingdale in 1998, and was the West Virginia State College Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 1999.

ROSCOE L. KOONTZ

Koontz (1922- ) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Stowes Teachers College until interrupted by a three-year hitch in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon discharge in 1946, he attended Tennessee State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. As a graduate student at the University of Rochester, Mr. Koontz conducted research on problems concerning neutron dosimetry, toxicology of uranium, plutonium and fission products. He later designed a pinhole gamma ray camera and collimator and helped to design and fabricate automatic air and water sampling equipment and radiation activity measuring devices. When Health Physics became a recognized profession early in 1942, there were few rules, guidelines, and procedures to follow. With their instructors, early students like Koontz originated many of today's practices, instrumentation, and techniques to protect people from the hazards of ionizing radiation. Until his retirement, Koontz was at Atomics International, a company in southern California that designs reactors.

WALTER EUGENE MASSEY

Massey (1938- ) was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Washington University in 1966. Massey became a full Professor of Physics at Brown University in 1975, and served as the Director of the Argonne National Laboratory from 1979 to 1984. Appointed Vice-President for Research at Argonne National Laboratory in 1984, Massey also served as the President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Professor Massey's research in theoretical and solid state physics deals with many-body problems, quantum liquids, and quantum solids. In 1995, Massey was named 9th president of his alma mater Morehouse College.