Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube News Press Room

News

Recovery Resources News

Get the latest! 

The Recovery Resources News page gives you updates and insights into the issues and ideas being talked about at Recovery Resources. 

 
Jan 31, 2020
by: Carrie Larsen
Black History Month: Dr. Herbert Smitherman

Dr. Herbert Smitherman

Dr. Herbert Smitherman was a pioneering executive and professional chemist at Proctor & Gamble who led the way for other African-Americans at the prestigious company in the 1960s. He was the first black person with a doctorate hired at Proctor & Gamble. With a Ph.D in physical organic chemistry, Dr. Smitherman developed a number of incredibly popular patents, including Crest toothpaste, Safeguard soap, Bounce fabric softeners, Biz, Folgers Coffee and Crush soda, to name a few. Not only are they still on the shelves, but many of them are on display at the Cincinnati Museum Center in the featured exhibit, “America I AM: The African-American Imprint.”

Nicknamed the “Jackie Robinson of Proctor & Gamble,” Dr. Smitherman spent 29 years there before turning in his labcoat to work as a professor at Wilberforce University. But after serving at the historically black college, Smitherman turned his attention to starting a high school called the Western Hills Design Technology School to help black students perform better in math and science.

A child of the south, Dr. Smitherman’s family lived in Birmingham, Alabama, where his father served as a reverend. A young Smitherman would see his father’s church burn down twice during their push for voting registration and voting rights.

He died October 9, 2010.

Dr. Smitherman’s legacy was left in his association with HBCUs, specifically his alma mater, Tuskegee Institute, where he met his wife of 51 years; Howard University, where he got his PH.D, and Wilberforce University, where he enlightened many students on his world of historical innovation.

 

 

Source: http://cbtu.ca/2010/12/little-known-black-history-fact-dr-herbert-smitherman/

Posted on December 16, 2010

Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 5:23 am
By: Erica Taylor, The Tom Joyner Morning Show

RSS Subscribe

Authors

Recent Posts

Jun 8, 2021 by Carrie Larsen
A message from Recovery Resources' Board Member Bob Laughton as he prepares for the Goggin's Challenge. Bob will run 48 miles in 48 hours in support of the 9th Annual Run for Recovery.2
 
May 11, 2021 by Carrie Larsen
Join us for the 9th Annual Run for Recovery either virtually OR in person on August 14, 2021 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
 

Archives