T. W. SOLOMONS

1934 - 2021

SOLOMONS, T. W. Graham Professor Emeritus, died at his family home in McClellanville, SC on Oct. 2, 2021. He was 87. Graham had a distinguished career as an Organic Chemistry Professor at the University of South Florida and as the author of an organic chemistry textbook, which with the help of two co-authors, is now in its 13th edition. Used at universities all over the world, his book has been translated into eight languages. Born on Aug. 30, 1934, in Charleston, SC, Graham was the elder of two sons born to Aletha Graham Solomons and John Allen Solomons of Estill, SC. He had happy memories as a child in the idyllic fishing village of McClellanville. Graham skipped his senior year in high school and in 1951 went to The Citadel Military College in Charleston. Graham was First Honor Graduate in the Citadel Class of 1955 graduating with a BS in Chemistry. He went on to Duke University where he received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1959. Graham was awarded a Sloan Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship at Rochester University. At the end of his postdoctoral year, he passed up an offer from Harvard for an opportunity at a university in Tampa Florida that was still under construction. Graham was inspired by the idea of teaching at a brand new university and breathing life into the chemistry department of the University of South Florida. When USF opened its doors to students in the fall of 1960, Graham was one of three Charter faculty members in the Chemistry Department. In January 1961, Graham was the recipient of the first Research Grant awarded to a USF faculty member; the first of many achievements and honors during his thirty-year career as a professor. He was active in all aspects of university life: from a role on the Board of Directors for the University Chapel Fellowship to serving as President of the USF Chapters of both AAUP and AFT. Later in 1961, his work at USF was interrupted when Graham served for 13 months as an officer in the United States Army, entering as a first lieutenant and completing his service as a captain. He served initially in the US Army Air Defense Command at Fort Tilden, Brooklyn NY, and then the US Army Chemical Corps. Graham's love of teaching was matched by his passion for the causes he believed in, including academic freedom, civil rights, and the anti-Vietnam War movement. His involvement in the latter led him to become the Chairman of the Eugene McCarthy for President Campaign in Hillsborough County in 1968. Two years later he was selected, as one of two people from the state of Florida, to attend the Conference on the Indochina War held in Paris, France. On his return, Graham spent many hours in church halls and civic meetings recounting what he had learned during his meetings with the parties at the Paris Peace Talks, in the hope of educating more Americans on the history of the Vietnam War and the possibilities for peace. Known for his excellence in teaching, in the early 1970s, Graham was asked by two publishers to consider writing an undergraduate-level textbook. In 1972, he signed a contract with John Wiley and Sons, NY, and in 1976, the 1st edition of Organic Chemistry by T.W.Graham Solomons was published. The book changed the way the subject was taught and became one of the leading organic textbooks worldwide in the following decades. Graham remained a Wiley author for 49 years. In addition to his passion for teaching and writing, Graham enjoyed gardening, camping and traveling in Europe, playing tennis, walking the footpaths of Sussex, hiking in the mountains of the Dolomites, sailing in the waters off Brittany, and attending operas, classical music concerts, and the theater. But Graham's greatest love and devotion was to his beloved family. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother, J. Allen Solomons Jr., and his son, J. Allen Solomons III. His is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Judith Taylor Solomons; daughter, Eugenie Solomons Schillig; son, James Taylor Graham Solomons; grandson, Corwin Guido Schillig; granddaughter, Ella Eve Solomons; daughter-in-law, Annabel Eve Solomons and a multitude of cousins, other family members and friends who loved him dearly. A memorial/ celebration of life service for Graham will be held at the United Methodist Church of McClellanville at 2 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2022. A reception following the service will be held under the McClellanville Town Hall, Pinckney Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lutheran Hospice, Mount Pleasant, 1885 Riffle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.