Herbert Clay Scurlock

Herbert Clay Scurlock (March 11, 1875 – September 26, 1952) was an American biochemist and a pioneer in the application of radiation therapy for treating cancer and the use of X-rays for dental diagnosis.

Life Scurlock was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1875. In 1895, he graduated in chemistry at Livingstone College. In 1900, he got a degree in medicine from Howard University, and a master of arts from Columbia University, in 1915.

From 1900 to 1905, Scurlock worked as an assistant in chemistry and lecturer in electrotherapy and X-ray at Howard University College of Medicine. He taught chemistry and physics for a brief stint, returning later to the College of Medicine as full professor of the department of physiological chemistry. Herbert and his wife, Mabel S. Scurlock, had a son, Herbert S. Scurlock, and four daughters, Dorothea Dedmon, Helen Brown, Nina E. Mundy and Mabel E. Lewis.