Bohning was chair of the American Chemical Society’s Division of the History of Chemistry in 1986 he received the division’s Outstanding Paper Award in 1989 and presented more than forty papers at national meetings of the society. He served there as chemistry department chair from 1970 to 1986 and environmental science department chair from 1987 to 1990. Bohning was professor emeritus of chemistry at Wilkes University, where he had been a faculty member from 1959 to 1990. Finally, Franz discusses his forthcoming book on the history of glyphosate, his final years at Monsanto, and his retirement. Discussing herbicides in light of current environmental and governmental regulations, he compares Roundup with the more potent herbicides favored by the industry today. Franz then examines his later work to understand amine and phosphine compounds as well as plant growth inhibitors. He describes the aftereffects of his discovery-the reactions of Monsanto and other companies, and the steps involved in commercial production of Roundup. This work led to Franz's discovery of glyphosate, a natural plant growth inhibitor that forms the active ingredient in Roundup, an environmentally friendly herbicide that has become one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. After describing his first projects, Franz recalls his transfer from the organic chemicals division to the agricultural division, where he worked on synthetic herbicides. Next, Franz discusses choosing to work at the Monsanto Company, rather than DuPont. Moving on to his graduate work at the University of Minnesota, Franz contrasts his studies there in physical organic chemistry with his training in practical synthetic organic chemistry at Illinois.

He then describes his undergraduate work at the University of Illinois and his contacts there with Roger Adams, Elliott Alexander, Virginia Bartow, Reynold Fuson, and Carl Marvel. Franz begins this interview by discussing his early life in Springfield, Illinois, during the Depression.

Carl john franz courtney hadlin