Vithal K. Ghanta, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology, Jerry G. Spenney, M.D., professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Joseph G. Van Matre, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems and Quantitative Methods; and Richard J. Whitley, M.D., Distinguished Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, were honored for 50 years of service to UAB during a reception April 11.
“I park in Lot 3, which was a parking lot with a reserved spot for our second and third presidents, and as well as the dean of the School of Dentistry, when the president’s office was in Mortimer Jordan Hall. My advisor, Raymond Hiromoto, Ph.D., and I would see the presidents very often, talk to them and walk with Dentistry Dean Leonard Robinson to our offices. Those days were very special and I have fond memories of those meetings.”
— Vithal K. Ghanta, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology
“Years ago, when we started having our students use the computer, I warned them with a quote from Joseph Campbell, author of ‘The Power of Myth’: ‘A computer is like an Old Testament god, full of rules and without mercy.’ It was useful then, still so today.”
— Joseph G. Van Matre, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems and Quantitative Methods
“UAB has always been for me an institution without walls. Investigators across department could share expertise and allow for exponential growth of both science and friendships.”
— Richard J. Whitley, M.D., Distinguished Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
