William D. McElroy

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William David McElroy (January 22, 1917 - February 17, 1999) was a noted American biochemist.

Born in Rogers, Texas, McElroy originally went to Stanford University on a football scholarship. There he was influenced by his science professors, including the microbiologist Cornelius Van Niel and the geneticist George Beadle. He earned his masters degree at Reed College and his PhD at Princeton University in 1943. He became interested in bioluminescence, working with such figures at E. Newton Harvey.

After college, McElroy became a professor at Johns Hopkins University. He initiated an independent research program in bioluminescence, recruiting students to collect fireflies as well as perform experiments. He discovered the key role that luciferase and ATP play in the process.

He began working with the Office of Naval Research and the National Institute of Health in the 1950s, and became a member of the Science Advisory Committee to President Kennedy in 1962. He later became the director of the National Science Foundation from 1969 to 1972. He also served as the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science from 1975 to 1976. He became chancellor of the University of California, San Diego from 1972 to 1980.