Dow Chemical Company (retired)
The world of toxicology has lost one of its great contributors and leaders. Dr. Perry Gehring not only had a distinguished career as a toxicologist, but also distinguished himself in research and administration during his career at the Dow Chemical Company and Dow AgroSciences.
Perry graduated from the University of Minnesota, receiving his doctor of veterinary medicine and a PhD in pharmacology. He spent three years at Michigan State University as an associate professor in the pharmacology department. The next thirty years were spent with Dow Chemical in various research and management positions. Perry was responsible for the formation of Environmental Health and Safety at Dow.
He retired as vice president of research and development for Dow AgroSciences.
Perry was president of the Society of Toxicology from 1980 to 1981 and president of the International Union of Toxicology from 1986 to 1989. The Society of Toxicology presented him with its Merit Award in 1983, and in that same year, he received the Founders Award from the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology. Perry had numerous professional and board memberships where he served in advisory and governing capacities.
Perry contributed extensively to SOT, not only as president, but also serving on councils, a number of committees, and as an associate editor for toxicology and applied pharmacology. He authored or co-authored over two hundred scientific papers, some of which are classics in toxicology.
While at the University of Minnesota, Perry was very proud of being on the Scholastic AllBig Ten and Scholastic All-American Team for football. He also received the Big Ten Conference Medal for the most outstanding combination of athletic and scholastic performance.
After graduation from Minnesota in 1965, Perry started his research career at Dow Chemical. He spent two years at Dows biochemical research laboratory and returned to academia at Michigan State University (MSU) in the Department of Pharmacology. Perrys goal was to make toxicology a part of the pharmacology discipline at MSU. In the three short years he was at MSU, he did accomplish the task of promoting toxicology at the university, and it truly marked a new era in toxicology: What was once the Department of Pharmacology is now the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
In 1970, Perry returned to Dow Chemical at the persuasion of V. K. Rowe, one of the founding fathers of the Society of Toxicology. Perry became the director of the Dow Toxicology Research Laboratory. Through his leadership, he developed a world-class toxicology laboratory. Perry had a vision of what he wanted to accomplish. When he joined Dow, there were eighteen people in the laboratory; ten years later, there were over three hundred professionals. His first two hires were Bernie Schwetz and Dick Kociba, both of whom became renowned toxicologists. Throughout the years, other notables who were part of his laboratory were Jim Gibson, Jim Bus, and Phil Watanabe. The laboratory developed many other great toxicologists who helped enhance toxicology.
Perry was instrumental in taking toxicology from "stuff the animals with chemicals and count the dead" to utilizing the newest biological and mechanistic advancements and protocols in order to better understand chemical risk. His laboratories were dedicated to looking for the intrinsic toxicity of chemicals. He had a strong desire to emphasize the importance of dose response, absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion of chemicals. The data derived from these studies revolutionized toxicology and established a science-based approach to risk assessment which continues to be refined today.
Metabolism was one of Perrys favorite research disciplines. His knowledge of math, along with his biological acumen, led to some of the first pharmacokinetic models. I think of Perry as the father of the use of pharmacokinetics in toxicology. In fact, he really thought the term "chemobiokinetics" should have been used. This early work led to the science of physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling. Perry was also an early pioneer of studying chemical metabolism at the cellular and subcellular level.
The one thing Perry was very demanding of in research methodology was the necessity of using protocols. He felt that without a protocol, you really had not thought through what you wanted to accomplish. His drive for protocols was really the start of "Good Laboratory Practices" before they were mandated by the government.
Perry wanted to utilize all the information available or that could be obtained to truly understand chemical risk. To do this at Dow, he formed an epidemiology group and added a research arm to the industrial hygiene organization. With information from these groups, he could look at real-life data along with the animal toxicology data and try to fully understand the chemical risk to humans. He then added the environmental toxicology group. This fulfilled his vision for having an environmental health and safety organization at Dow, which was one of the first in industry. With this organization, research could be conducted to identify the potential impact of chemicals on the environment and human health.
Perry felt strongly that there was a need for an institute where scientists could focus on doing chemical toxicological research and not have to worry about funding. He convinced his bosses at Dow to talk to other chemical company executives about forming such an institute that would be supported by the chemical industry. In a short period of time, this institute went from being a vision to reality. It was called the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CIIT). Since its inception, CIIT has contributed extensive information that has helped revolutionize many aspects of toxicology. The institute is also responsible for the nurturing and development of many toxicologists. Many are currently working in academia, government, and industry, where they have become proven leaders.
I have described only a few of Perrys contributions to the field of toxicology. It would take an entire volume to completely describe his contributions and research achievements. Since his death, a number of his colleagues have related to me, "He was a real leader and person with uncanny vision." The word respect was the most consistent comment. "You might not always agree with Perry, but you sure respected him." His work ethic and tireless determination were legendary.
Perry was not only a researcher and manager; he also had many other interests. He was an avid outdoor sportsman, a sports enthusiast, a worldwide traveler, and a voracious reader. He had an unmatched enthusiasm for life. He really enjoyed people and touched so many. It didnt matter if you were rich or poor. To Perry, everyone was a "rich" person. One of his last phone calls was from a South Dakota farmer named Butch whom Perry had only known a short time. When Perry did not arrive in South Dakota to hunt pheasants this fall, Butch felt compelled to call Perry and tell him he was missed and wish him well.
Perrys familyhis wife, Barbara, and four children, Dan, Matt, Elizabeth and Heidi, lost a husband, father, grandfather, and best friend. Many of us have been fortunate to meet Barbara as she attended many of our annual meetings. She and Perry had a lasting love, dedication, and respect for each other. Perry was a great father and always talked about what was going on in the lives of his four children, of whom he was intensely proud.
The professional and living chapter of Perrys life has ended. What hasnt ended is the impact and legacy he left on this society, the field of toxicology and people he touched. In the words of V. K. Rowe, "Perry truly was something else."
NOTES
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at PO Box 4030, Edwards, CO 81632. E-mail: melraccoon{at}aol.com.
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