In Oak Park, Illinois, there is a school called Percy Julian Junior High School where students learn everyday about science and chemistry just like the man their school was named after. Percy Lavon Julian was born in Montgomery, Alabama on April 11,1899. His grandfather was a slave, his father was a railway mail clerk, and his mother was a school teacher. Although he loved learning, he was only allowed to go to school in Montgomery until eighth grade because back then blacks in Alabama weren't treated equally. But he attended a private school called the Normal School for Negroes and went on to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He was one of the first African American students. There he graduated top in his class and was also a member of two honor societies.

Percy Julian wanted to study chemistry because it fascinated him. He went on and earned many degrees from colleges like Harvard and the University of Vienna. He has also been given 14 honorary degrees for his research. After college, Percy was director of research at the Gliddon Company that made paint and varnishes. Since he was such a good chemist, he used soya bean protein to make "Aerofoam" that was used to put out gas and oil fires during World War II. His mother was a strong force in his life and he thought it was important to be a good role model for youth. He was very involved in the Boy Scouts of America for his son and other boys. He married and had a son and a daughter.

He took oil from soy beans and produced a medicine like cortisone that was much cheaper than the real thing so that more people could use it. It helped people with arthritis, glaucoma, and other conditions. He made other drugs, hormones and other products to earn over 100 patents.

When he died of cancer in 1975, he was happy because now black students could go to college and be scientists or what ever they wanted to be!

Bibliography:

1) Janet Barnstable, Percy Julian Junior High School

2) Internet- Percy Julian