19 Facts About Norman Hilberry

Norman Hilberry was an American physicist, best known as the director of the Argonne National Laboratory from 1956 to 1961.

Horace van Norman Hilberry was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 11,1899.

In 1941, Hilberry joined what would become the Manhattan Project, the effort to create an atomic bomb during World War II.

Norman Hilberry moved to the University of Chicago to help Arthur H Compton in any way possible.

Norman Hilberry was present for the start-up of the X-10 Graphite Reactor in November 1943, and the reactors at the Hanford Engineer Works the following year.

Norman Hilberry returned to the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago in 1945.

Norman Hilberry became assistant director of the Metallurgical Laboratory in 1943.

Norman Hilberry became the deputy director in 1949, and the director in June 1956, on Zinn's departure.

Norman Hilberry was the first director of Argonne's International School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, an important part of the Eisenhower Administration's Atoms for Peace program, from 1955 to 1956.

Norman Hilberry stepped down in November 1961, and was replaced by Albert Crewe.

Norman Hilberry remained at Argonne as a senior scientist until 1964, when he accepted an appointment as professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Arizona.

Norman Hilberry retired and became a professor emeritus in 1985.

Norman Hilberry was the recipient of the American Nuclear Society's Arthur Holly Compton Award, and received a citation for meritorious service from the Atomic Energy Commission.

Norman Hilberry was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1933.

Norman Hilberry was president of the American Nuclear Society from 1965 to 1966.

Norman Hilberry was a member of the board of directors of the Atomic Industry Forum from 1961 to 1968, of the Advisory Committee on US Policy Toward the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1962, and of the National Academy of Sciences' Advisory Committee to the United States Office of Emergency Preparedness from 1968 to 1973.

Norman Hilberry died from complications arising from influenza on March 28,1986, at the Humana Desert Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.

Norman Hilberry was survived by his wife Ann and daughter Joan.

Norman Hilberry's papers are in the University of Chicago Library.