Chester M. McCloskey

MS 1942
PhD 1944
Chemistry

Chemists are not always recognized for the role they play in making our 21st century life-style possible.  Chester M. McCloskey is one of the chemists to whom we have a particular debt.  After his graduation from The University of Iowa, he taught at the California Institute of Technology, and published significant papers on organic peroxides and related chemicals.  In 1953, he left Caltech to create Norac, Inc.  As president, he continued to lead research and development projects, and is the holder of many patents.  His team at Norac developed a sophisticated ketone peroxide manufacturing process that remains the most efficient and technically-advanced in the industry.  For more than 50 years, he worked on chemical-related fire safety issues, and his paper on “Safe Handling of Organic Peroxides” was crucial in establishing industry-wide standards.  Norac has plants in California, Arkansas, and Sweden.  It is the leading supplier of ketone peroxides and metallic stearates in North America.  These sometimes dangerous but very important chemicals are used throughout industry to, as the company says, “upgrade your process or product from good to excellent or from excellent to outstanding.”  A subsidiary, Norac Pharma, creates small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients that are used in a wide variety of therapies.  Throughout his career, Dr. McCloskey has also been involved in civic activities and in supporting academic institutions.