Stanley J. Buckman was born November 24, 1908, in Tyndall, South Dakota. He received bachelor of science and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota College of Forestry in 1931 and 1933.
Dr. Buckman co-founded Central Laboratories, Inc. in 1941. Central’s first project was developing a decay-resistant wood for military use during World War II. He became one of the country’s leading authorities on wood preservation. The laboratory provided products for wood and fabrics for military uses and other essential defense purposes.
In 1945, Dr. Buckman founded Buckman Laboratories, Inc. in Memphis, Tennessee. The company’s first product was microbiocide BMS-11, widely used for controlling slimes in paper machine systems. Today, Buckman Laboratories provides pulp and paper industry chemicals for control of pitch, stickies, deposits, retention and drainage aids, foam control, dye retention, recycling, water and wastewater treatment, and corrosion and scale control.
Although he was actively involved in all operations of the company, his first love was research and development. He was always in touch and knew the status of every project, initiating many of them. His name appears on most of the company’s initial patents as inventor or co-inventor, and he authored 26 publications.
Colleagues cite his contagious, youthful enthusiasm. He focused on the future, his optimism made it exciting, and his logic cut through the peripheral to the final solution. He was a member of 13 professional organizations related to his expertise, including American Chemical Society; American Society for Testing Materials; Canadian Pulp and Paper Association; Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI); Paper Industry Management Association (PIMA); New York Academy of Science; and American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Buckman died September 10, 1978, in Memphis. His wife, Mertie W. Buckman and a son, John D. Buckman, are also deceased . He is survived by a son, Robert H. Buckman, and three grandchildren.