Henry Cecil McBay (1914–1995) was an American chemist and beloved professor who transformed countless lives through his dedication to science education. Renowned for his inspiring teaching style and unwavering commitment to students, McBay taught in the Atlanta University Center (encompassing Morehouse College, Spelman College and Atlanta University for over 41 years. He focused on cultivating the next generation of scientists, especially African American chemists, instilling in them a passion for chemistry and the confidence to excel in STEM fields. McBay’s uplifting influence and distinguished service as an educator earned him national recognition, including the American Chemical Society’s award for encouraging disadvantaged students to pursue careers in chemistry.
Early Life and Education
Henry McBay’s journey began in Mexia, Texas, where he was born on May 29, 1914. A bright student with a love of science and math, he graduated from high school at age 16 and went on to attend Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. There, McBay “fell madly in love with [organic] chemistry—the most beautiful thing in the world,” as he later recalled. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1934 (graduating cum laude and second in his class) and immediately pursued graduate studies at Atlanta University, obtaining a Master’s in organic chemistry by 1936.
Even as a young chemist, McBay showed a talent for both research and teaching. He spent the late 1930s teaching chemistry at Wiley College and a junior college in Kansas, while also supporting his siblings’ college education. In 1940, he joined a research team at Tuskegee Institute led by the famed scientist George Washington Carver, working on a World War II project to find alternatives to scarce jute fiber. McBay investigated using okra plants as a substitute for jute, ultimately discovering that okra could not be harvested for both food and fiber – a finding that, as he joked, “researched me out of a job” when the project ended in 1942. That same year, McBay was offered a chance to continue his education at the University of Chicago. He enrolled as a doctoral student in chemistry, a move that also provided a deferment from military service during World War II.
At the University of Chicago, McBay excelled despite being the only Black student in his graduate chemistry class. He conducted pioneering research on highly explosive organic peroxides under Professor Morris Kharasch, work was so important that it earned McBay the prestigious Elizabeth Norton Prize for excellence in chemical research in 1944 and 1945. McBay’s doctoral dissertation involved safely synthesizing compounds from acetyl peroxide, and one application of his Ph.D. research later contributed to developing a treatment for prostate cancer. He received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1945, but rather than continue down a solely research-oriented path, McBay felt a calling to teach and uplift others.
Devoted Teacher at Morehouse College
In 1945, fresh from earning his doctorate, Henry McBay joined the faculty of Morehouse College in Atlanta – an historically Black college that was also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s alma mater. He started as an assistant professor and by 1956 became chair of the Chemistry Department. At Morehouse (part of the Atlanta University Center consortium), McBay found that heavy teaching loads left little time for personal research. Instead of lamenting this, he channeled his energy into teaching and mentorship, focusing on turning out the best African American chemists in the country. Students in his classes were treated to dramatic demonstrations of chemistry’s wonders – for example, McBay loved to perform what he called “miracles,” such as combining two poisons (metallic sodium and chlorine gas) to produce ordinary table salt. Through such engaging lessons, he conveyed the transformative power of chemistry and sparked curiosity in young minds.
McBay was a demanding instructor with rigorous academic standards, earning him the affectionate nickname “The Little Giant” because of his short stature, but towering impact as an educator. He accepted no excuses for lack of preparation and pushed his students to excel, yet he was deeply supportive toward those who rose to the challenge. Former students remember that even those not majoring in chemistry left his classes inspired and better prepared for scientific thinking. McBay’s passion for teaching went beyond the classroom as well – in 1951, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) invited him to develop a chemistry education program in Liberia, recognizing his talent for expanding science education internationally. Throughout over four decades at Morehouse and other Atlanta University Center schools, McBay remained first and foremost a teacher who viewed every lesson as an opportunity to instill knowledge and confidence in his students.
Mentoring a Generation of Chemists
Above all, Henry McBay saw himself as a mentor. He actively sought out talented Black students in chemistry and helped guide them into graduate programs and scientific careers. Over the years, more than 50 of McBay’s protégés went on to earn Ph.D. or M.D. degrees, many becoming important chemists, researchers, and educators in their own right. In fact, by the time of his retirement, no other educator in the United States had guided as many African American students to achieve a Ph.D. in chemistry as McBay had. He took great pride in seeing his students succeed. One of his former freshman chemistry students at Morehouse, for example, was Louis W. Sullivan, who would later become a physician and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services – a testament to the caliber of individuals McBay helped nurture.
McBay’s mentorship extended beyond Morehouse to the broader scientific community. In 1972, he co-founded the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), creating a support network and conference for minority scientists. He was one of seven original founders of NOBCChE, and the society later established the Henry C. McBay Outstanding Teacher Award in his honor to recognize excellence in STEM education and mentoring. Colleagues often referred to McBay as the “godfather of African American chemistry,” acknowledging how his mentorship produced a large share of the Black chemists in the United States during the mid-20th century. Even after retiring from full-time teaching in 1986, McBay continued to teach part-time until 1995 and co-directed a program at Clark Atlanta University aimed at increasing the number of Black Ph.D. graduates in science and engineering. His entire career was devoted to opening doors for others in science.
Legacy and Honors
Henry McBay’s legacy as an educator and mentor is profound. He spent over 40 years inspiring students at Morehouse, Spelman, Atlanta University, and beyond, and hundreds of students credit him for influencing their careers in science, education, and research. Recognizing his extraordinary impact, institutions showered McBay with honors. He received multiple awards for teaching excellence, including the Outstanding Teacher Award from NOBCChE in 1976 and the American Chemical Society’s Norris Award in 1978 for outstanding achievement in the teaching of chemistry. In 1990–91, MIT invited McBay as the inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Scholar, where the MIT community held a two-day symposium to celebrate his contributions as “one of the nation’s leading educators of African Americans”. During that event, dozens of his former students – now accomplished scientists and professionals – gathered to honor the teacher who had set them on their paths. Ebony magazine also named McBay a “Superstar of Science” in 1991, highlighting his status as a role model in the Black scientific community.
Throughout his career, McBay earned numerous awards and distinctions for his mentoring and scholarship. He won the ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in 1995 – a fitting capstone for a lifetime spent uplifting others. He was granted honorary doctorates from institutions including Atlanta University, Emory University, and Bowie State, and a science building at Morehouse College (the Nabrit-Mapp-McBay Science Building) was named in his honor. In addition, the United Negro College Fund established Henry C. McBay Research Fellowships to support young faculty at HBCUs, extending his influence to future generations of scholars.
Henry C. McBay passed away in 1995, but his influence lives on in every student he mentored and every educator he inspired. His story is one of talent coupled with selfless dedication: a scientist who could have pursued personal acclaim in research, yet chose to devote his life to lifting others. By passionately promoting excellence and diversity in STEM, McBay created a lasting legacy – a ripple effect of knowledge and opportunity. Today, when we celebrate the achievements of African American scientists or see increasing diversity in chemistry, we are in many ways witnessing the fruits of Dr. Henry McBay’s mentorship and visionary leadership. His life reminds us that a great teacher can change the face of a field, one student at a time, through the simple act of believing in their potential and urging them to soar.
