Roundup Developer to be Inducted into Inventors Hall of Fame

The inventor of Roundup herbicide is included in this year’s inductees to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

In 1970, while working at Monsanto, John Franz discovered the glyphosate class of herbicides, later marketed under the brand name Roundup. Glyphosate herbicides are broad-spectrum, postemergents that eliminate more than 125 kinds of weeds and are nontoxic to animals.    

Franz was born in Springfield, Ill. He received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Illinois and the University of Minnesota. He commenced work at Monsanto Company in 1955 and retired in 1991. Franz was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1987 and the Perkin Medal in 1990. He holds over 840 U.S. and foreign patents.

Other inductees into year's wide-ranging class include Allen Breed, who invented the automotive airbag, Maurice Hilleman, whose vaccines have nearly eliminated many common childhood diseases in developed countries, and Robert Metcalfe, who created Ethernet, the widely used local area network. 

The 2007 group includes seven living inventors whose accomplishments have improved our lives. Medical imaging, information storage, communication networks, and biotechnology are just a few of the areas where their influence can be seen.   

The 2007 class of inductees:   

LIVING   
- Paul Baran: Digital packet switching   
- Emmett Chappelle: Bioluminescence techniques   
- John Franz: Roundup(R) herbicide   
- Leroy Hood: DNA sequencer   
- Paul Lauterbur: Magnetic resonance imaging-MRI   
- Peter Mansfield: Magnetic resonance imaging-MRI  
 - Robert Metcalfe: Ethernet   

POSTHUMOUS RECOGNITION   
- Allen Breed: Automotive airbag   
- David Cushman, Miguel Ondetti: Captopril   
- Donald Davies: Digital packet switching   
- William Goddard, John Lynott: Magnetic disk storage   
- Peter Goldmark: Long playing record   
- Maurice Hilleman: Vaccines  
- Godfrey Hounsfield: CAT scanner   
- Arthur Nobile:  Prednisone  
- Otto Wichterle: Soft contact lens  

Every year, the National Inventors Hall of Fame honors through induction the individuals whose work has changed society and improved the way we live. Their vision, hard work, and creative drive have led to powerful new tools that shape the future while celebrating invention. The 2007 class will be inducted this year on May 4th and 5th at the annual induction ceremonies held in Akron, Ohio. 

"We're pleased to recognize such a distinguished group of inventors who have truly changed the way we live our lives," said Fred Allen, vice president of selection of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. "They deserve our gratitude and our respect for all that they've accomplished."   

Inventors may be nominated by anyone for induction into the Hall of Fame, but they must hold a U.S. patent to be considered. The nominee's invention must have contributed to the welfare of society and have promoted the progress of science and the useful arts. All nominations are reviewed by the Selection Committee, comprised of representatives from national science and technology organizations.