 Wendell Talbot Hill Jr. |
CONTACT: Katie Knorovsky, 515-271-1834, katie.knorovsky@drake.edu
The Lawrence C. and Delores M. Weaver Medal of Honor — the highest award presented by Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — will be awarded posthumously to Wendell Talbot Hill Jr. (1924 – 1995), who graduated from Drake in 1950.
The award will be presented to Hill’s widow, Marcella Washington, a 1949 Drake graduate, at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 25, in Sheslow Auditorium, Old Main, 2507 University Ave. Washington and her two sons, Wendell III and Philip Elliott, will then give the annual Weaver Lecture.
Following his academic training at Drake and the University of Southern California, Hill was instrumental in advancing hospital pharmacy practice between 1954 and 1976.
In 1977, Hill was appointed dean of the College of Pharmacy at Howard University. Accepting the responsibility at a time when the college was in turmoil, Hill enabled the college to reach full accreditation status by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education and rallied resources to accelerate the university’s growth and development.
He earned recognition from his peers for superior leadership as a member of several professional organizations, including his place on the Board of Trustees at Drake. Hill was also awarded the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from Drake in 1975. He met his wife at Drake and together the couple raised two sons.
An exhibit highlighting Dr. Hill’s professional career will coincide with the Weaver Lecture and be on display for the remainder of the semester in the Heritage Room of Cowles Library, 28th Street and University Avenue.
The Weaver Medal of Honor was established by Lawrence Weaver, a 1949 Drake graduate, dean emeritus of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, and his wife, Delores.