Ruth Mary Rogan Benerito
Personal Information
Born: 1916
Died: 2013
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
1935, BA Chemistry, H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College; 1938, MA Physics, Tulane University; 1948, PhD Physical Chemistry, University of Chicago; 1972, Post-doctoral Fellowship in Biophysics, Tulane University
Professional Life
Field of Study: Physical Chemistry; Inventor
Institution/Corporation: University of Chicago; USDA Southern Regional Research Center; Tulane University; University of New Orleans
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: Tulane University 1981
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1970, Garvan-Olin Medal; 2002, Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award; 2008, National Inventors Hall of Fame; 1964, USDA Distinguished Service Award; 1968, Federal Woman Award; 1968, Southern Chemist Award; 1971, Southwest Regional Award of American Chemical Society; 1984, Woman of Achievement at World s Fair; 2004, USDA S Agricultural Research Service Science Hall of Fame; 2019, Cotton Incorporated Cotton Research & Promotion Hall of Fame
Achievements: wrinkle-free cotton
Held 56 patents
Was known for her work related to the textile industry, notably the development of wash-and-wear cotton fabrics
Completed high school at 14 & entered college at 15
Worked at USDA 1954-1986
Discovered wrinkle-resistant, stain- & flame-resistant fabrics
Her inventions were said to have "saved the cotton industry"
Was very humble about her discoveries & often said they were the work of many people
Her research led to the development of glassy fibers that proved useful in the manufacture of lab equipment
During the Korean War she developed a way to give fat intravenously to patients too sick to eat; it was a method used to feed seriously wounded soldiers