Tribute to Chuck Willis.

Abstract

I met Chuck Willis in the 1980’s at one of the annual meetings of the Biological Stain Commission. I had known about the Commission’s activities with dyes for years and had always sought out Commissioncertified products for my teaching and research activities. What I did not realize, however, was the amount of work involved behind those little certification labels. At our formal dinner that year, I had the good fortune to sit close to Chuck and ply him with questions. He described some of the tests, and as my curiosity grew, he described the record-keeping aspects. He gave many details, but characteristically omitted something very important: he was the one who did so much of the work. Decades later, as I was reviewing certification procedures for possible revision, I obtained copies of pertinent paperwork. There in Chuck’s handwriting were not only the “facts,” but annotations that revealed just how perceptive he was. It became obvious to me that his dedication to detail truly enhanced the value of the BSC Lab’s archives. Each time we met in Rochester, NY, we made time to simply sit and get to know one another better. Frequently his wife, Lorraine, and my wife, Janet, joined in. We learned about Chuck’s dedication to youth and how he coached them for many years in the art and skill of camping. He obviously derived a great personal satisfaction in helping those boys. His stories shed a bright light upon this man whom I had known previously only as a meticulous record keeper and lab worker. On behalf of the Biological Stain Commission, I thank you, Chuck Willis, for being so instrumental in building our organization.