Louis William Busse

Louis W. Busse, age 99, passed away at his home at Attic Angel Place on Friday, February 11, 2011 after a short illness.   He is survived by his darling wife of 72 years, Genevieve (Slater) Busse, two children, Louis, III of Vacaville, CA, and   Carolyn Klemett (Phil) of Sylvania, OH, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Erik D. Klemett and wife, Gayla (Walker) and son, Samuel of Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Kristofer J. Klemett and wife, Laura (Thomas) and son Andrew of Austin, Texas.     Louis was born in Reedsville, Wisconsin on November 26, 1911 to Louis A. and Rose (Stelling) Busse.   He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ralph of Watertown, Wisconsin and Wallace of Los Angeles, California.     Louis graduated from Appleton H.S. and   received his B.A. degree from Lawrence College in 1934.   Following that, he attended the University of Wisconsin where he received a B.S. degree in Pharmacy in 1936 and a PhD in Pharmacy in 1940. He married Genevieve, daughter of Harry Slater and Bernice (Hoehn) of Chicago, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 8, 1938.   Louis came from a long line of community pharmacists.   His father, uncle and brother, Ralph,   owned and operated pharmacies in Reedsville, Manitowoc, and Watertown, respectively.   Except for service with the War Production Board during WWII, Louis spent his entire career in pharmaceutical research, education and administration at the University of Wisconsin where he served first as a professor of pharmaceutics and was Associate Dean from 1954-1968.   Dr. Busse was a strong proponent of high educational standards for pharmacy.   He was a leader in developing pharmaceutical research, continuing education for pharmacy practitioners,   pharmacy internships and continuing education conferences for industrial pharmaceutical scientists.   As such, he developed and directed the annual Land O' Lakes Industrial Pharmacy Research Conferences from 1959-1968.   The conferences remain a strong venue for bringing together educators and industrial pharmaceutical scientists from all over the world.   Dr. Busse's early research was primarily in the area of pharmaceutical technology focusing especially upon processes for making fine powders and measuring their sizes, powder technology as it influenced tablet making, instrumental techniques for evaluating the factors important in making tablets and factors important in making therapeutic ointments and suspensions. Over 50 publications on his pharmaceutical research and 2 patents have resulted from his studies.   Dr. Busse has been recognized for his many contributions to pharmacy at the state, national and international level.   Among his honours include the Mortar & Pestle Award (1950), the prestigious APhA Ebert Prize Medal (1951), the APhA Foundation Achievement Award for the Advancement of Pharmacy(1967), and the UW Honorary Citation.   During his long and illustrious career, he was an active member of many professional and civic organizations.   He served as President of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts & Letters (1972-73), President of the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (1973-74), President of the History of Pharmacy Alumni Association (1981).   He was a founding member or the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy (1941) and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (1986) and Madison West Rotary Club (1957). He served as President of Madison West Rotary Club (1971-72), National President of Rho Chi, two terms on the Executive Committee of the A.A.C.P., 2 terms as Chairman of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences Section of Pharmacy, and 3 years as Chairman of the Program Planning Committee of the joint F.I.P.- Academy Scientific Program Committee for the 31st International Congress of Pharmaceutical Scientists.   He became an Emeritus Professor in 1978 at which time, he was the Edward Kremers Professor of Pharmacy.   From 1975 to 1980, he served on the Board of Trustees of the United States Pharmacopeia.       Through a lifetime of leadership and contributions to pharmaceutical education and practice, Dr. Busse had a significant impact on the directions of curriculum development, research, internship and pharmacy practice in Wisconsin as well as on a national and international level.   Through many contributions to his school, his profession and to pharmaceutical research, Dr. Busse has had a significant impact on the quality of pharmacy research in the pharmaceutical industry.   His many friends, former students and professional colleagues chose to honour him upon his retirement by establishing a lectureship designed to bring an outstanding industrial pharmaceutical scientist to the UW School of Pharmacy each year.     After his retirement, Louie became an avid golfer and joined WAGA (Wednesday Afternoon Golf Association) where he was honoured for shooting an 18 hole score less than his age at the time.   A Celebration of Louie's Life will be held on Saturday, March 26th at 2:00 P.M. at Attic Angel Place, 8301 Old Sauk Rd., Middleton, Wisconsin,   In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to help establish the ""Louis W. Busse Scholarship"" at the UW School of Pharmacy.   Checks can be made out to the UW   Foundation   and sent   to the attention of Linda Halsey at 1848 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin   53726 or gifts can be made on-line by going to: www.pharmacy.wisc.edu/make-gift.   Louie's family wishes to thank those   who have sent cards of condolence, personal messages and memorials in Louie's honour.