Henry Cecil McBay

Henry Ransom Cecil McBay (May 29, 1914 – 1995) was an American chemist and teacher. McBay won numerous awards for his teaching and mentoring, including the American Chemical Society Award (for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences). McBay also co-founded the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).

Family Henry Ransom McBay was born on May 29, 1914, in Mexia, Texas.

Education and academic career McBay enrolled at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, and paid for his education with scholarships and by working jobs during college.

Teaching One of McBay's main goals was to pass along his love for chemistry to his students. He regularly demonstrated how two materials could be combined to produce something with completely different properties. One of his frequent demonstrations combined a metallic poison, sodium, with a gaseous poison, chlorine, to produce table salt. He wanted his students to share his fascination with such processes, which he believed to be minor miracles.

In 1951, he developed a chemistry education program in Liberia on behalf of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). American Scholar Award, from Delta chapter of Georgia of Phi Beta Kappa, in 1991. "Superstar of Science" named, among others, by EBONY magazine, in 1991. Honorary Doctor of Science, granted by Atlanta's Emory University, in 1992. Honorary Doctor of Science, granted by Bowie State University, in 1993. American Chemical Society Award (for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences), in 1995. -- "Henry C. McBay Research Fellowships" (for faculty members) established by the United Negro College Fund, in 1995. -- "Henry C.R. McBay Chair in Space Sciences" established (posthumously) jointly by Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, in 1996. Honorary Doctor of Science, granted (posthumously) by Morehouse College, in 1996. Patent (for Fire Extinguishing Capsule), issued (posthumously), in 1997. Patent (for Device For The Synthesis Of Dimeric Species), issued (posthumously), in 1999.