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 Offical Biography
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The Arnold O. Beckman Story
1900 - 2004
Academic Affiliations | Philanthropy |
Industry Associations | Civic Activities
Awards | Patents
 Arnold O. Beckman, founder
and chairman-emeritus of Beckman Instruments, Inc. (now known as Beckman Coulter, Inc.), represents
nearly a century of outstanding scientific achievements. Considered one of the top five inventors
of scientific instruments, Dr. Beckman created devices that revolutionized the study and understanding
of human biology, ultimately saving countless lives around the world.
Dr. Beckman once said, "There is no satisfactory substitute for excellence." More than
just words, this philosophy guides his life and helped shape scientific history.
Throughout his legacy of excellence, Dr. Beckman has assumed many roles — that of
educator, inventor, civic leader, philanthropist and humanitarian. The foundation of his highly
decorated career has always been his personal integrity and his love for science.
Born in the small farming community of Cullom, Ill., on April 10, 1900, young Arnold Beckman's
interest in science was first piqued upon finding a chemistry book in the family attic. Not long
after reading Steele's textbook series Fourteen Weeks in Science, originally published in
1861, he converted a tool shed built for him by his father for his 10th birthday into a makeshift
chemistry lab.
Dr. Beckman began a more serious study of science at the University of Illinois, where he received
his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1922, followed by his master's degree in physical
chemistry one year later. Throughout his school years, he also tapped into his creative talents by
playing piano in silent movies to help support his family and fund his education. Beckman went on
to receive his doctorate in photochemistry at the California Institute of Technology (1928), where
he also served as a professor.
While he was still teaching, Dr. Beckman founded what eventually became Beckman Instruments, Inc.
in 1935 with the invention of the acidimeter. Produced for a former classmate at a Southern
California citrus processing plant, Beckman designed the acidimeter to measure acidity levels in
lemon juice. The acidimeter was later called a pH meter and quickly became an indispensable tool
in analytical chemistry. The invention earned him a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in
1987, joining other great inventors like Thomas Edison and Alexander Bell.
Dr. Beckman once stated, "When you're faced with the necessity to do something, that's a
stimulus to invention. If [my classmate] hadn't come in with his lemon juice problem, chances are
I never in the world would have thought about making a pH meter."
Dr. Beckman continued to develop and manufacture scientific instruments, leading to the release
of the DU Spectrophotometer in 1940. Considered the scientific equivalent of the Model T, this
product not only simplified tedious laboratory procedures, it also increased analytical precision
and revolutionized chemical analysis.
These extraordinary contributions led President Bush to award Dr. Beckman the National Medal of
Science in 1989 for his leadership in analytical instrumentation development and for his deep
concern for the vitality of the nation's scientific enterprises. He was also nationally
recognized under the Reagan administration with the 1989 Presidential Citizens Medal for
his exemplary deeds of service and the 1988 National Medal of Technology for outstanding
technological contributions to the United States.
Dr. Beckman's love of science and spirit of invention lives on in Beckman Instruments, Inc.,
a company with modest beginnings that today is one of the world's leading manufacturers of
instruments and suppliers to the clinical diagnostics and life sciences markets. Currently,
the company has approximately 10,000 employees in more than 50 facilities worldwide and operates in more
than 130 countries and territories.
Even though the company has made a wide variety of products over the years, including
a "rock smasher" for a Mars robot mission and an electronic radio-like component
called a Helipot®, it has never strayed very far from Dr. Beckman's original
focus on "the chemistry of life."
"The past years have been rewarding for me in many ways," said Dr. Beckman, during
the Golden Anniversary celebration for Beckman Instruments, Inc. "Perhaps the greatest
reward is the knowledge that Beckman products have contributed and are contributing to the
progress of mankind."
In October of 1997, Beckman Instruments, Inc. acquired Coulter Corporation, a Miami-based
manufacturer of cellular analysis systems. In April of 1998 the company was renamed Beckman
Coulter, Inc. and is today one of the leading providers of laboratory systems and solutions.
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Academic Affiliations
Throughout his outstanding career, Dr. Beckman constantly remained active in his educational
and research pursuits. In 1953, he was the first alumnus named to Caltech's Board of Trustees
and served as chairman from 1964 to 1974, at which time he was elected chairman-emeritus. Caltech
honored Dr. Beckman with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1984 and Millikan Award in 1985.
Dr. Beckman was a member of the Board of Overseers of the University of California at Irvine,
the President's Club of the University of Illinois and the Rockefeller University Council. He
was a member of the advisory boards of California State University at Fullerton and Chapman
College in Orange, California, and a regional trustee of Mills College in Oakland, California.
Dr. Beckman held honorary LL.D. degrees from the University of California, Riverside; Loyola
University Los Angeles and Pepperdine University. He held honorary doctor of science degrees
from the University of Illinois, Chapman College and Whittier College in California, Clarkson
University in Potsdam, New York, Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, and
Rockefeller University, New York. He also held an honorary doctor of humane letters degrees
from the California State University of Fullerton, California, and the Illinois State University
in Normal, Illinois.
"I've always enjoyed explaining things, whether it's called teaching or anything else,"
says Dr. Beckman. "It's a challenge to my skill in trying to convey what's on my mind."
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Philanthropy
Dr. Beckman was deeply grateful to the scientific community that nurtured his success and,
consequently, directs his philanthropic efforts to the chemical and life sciences.
Through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Beckman have generously
contributed to the advancement of education and research. The Beckman Young Investigators
Program, a grant-making program sponsored by the Foundation, provides research support to
the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers in
the chemical and life sciences. Other Foundation gifts have benefited a number of medical and
scientific institutions, including Beckman Auditorium, the Mabel and Arnold Beckman Laboratories
of Behavioral Biology, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Laboratory of Chemical Synthesis, and the
Beckman Institute, all at the California Institute of Technology; the Beckman Institute for
Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois; the Beckman Research Institute
at the City of Hope Hospital and Medical Center in Duarte, California; the Beckman Laser
Institute and Medical Clinic at the University of California in Irvine; the Beckman Vision
Center at the University of California in San Francisco; the Arnold Beckman Laboratory and
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Chemical Sciences at the Scripps Clinic and Research
Foundation in La Jolla, Calif.; Stanford University's Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic
Medicine; the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and
Engineering in Irvine; the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.; and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Neuroscience Education and Research Facility
at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, New York.
Rockefeller University in New York established the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Professorship
at the University's Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Caltech established the
Arnold O. Beckman Professorship of Chemistry.
"I accumulated my wealth by selling instruments to scientists," says a humble Dr.
Beckman of his vast philanthropic associations. "So I thought it would be appropriate to
make contributions to scientists, and that's been my number one guideline for charity."
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Industry Associations
Dr. Beckman was a founder and life member of the Instrument Society of America which, in 1960,
established the Arnold O. Beckman Award for outstanding technological contribution to instrument
design. In 1981, Dr. Beckman received the Society's first Life Achievement Award in honor of
his career achievements in instrumentation and service to the community.
Dr. Beckman was a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Chemical Society,
the Newcomen Society, and an honorary member of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry.
In 1977, the Association established annual Arnold O. Beckman Conferences in Clinical Chemistry
to examine critical topics among clinical scientists and practicing physicians.
The American Association of Engineering Societies presented him with the 1981 Hoover Medal
for his leadership in the development of precision measurement and analytical instrumentation,
and for his deep and abiding concern for human values, reflected in his career-long participation
in education, civic and public affairs.
Dr. Beckman was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the
Association of Clinical Scientists, which awarded him its Diploma of Honor in 1982. He was an
honorary fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Benjamin Franklin Fellow of
Great Britain's Royal Society of Arts.
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Civic Activities
A man of strong moral and ethical principles, Dr. Beckman has always been compelled to give
back to the community at large.
One of his ongoing concerns was the growing problem of air pollution. He was instrumental in
initiating the studies on the sources of photochemical smog and later helped develop control
regulations and warning procedures for Los Angeles County.
In 1953, Dr. Beckman served as chairman of a special technical committee on air pollution
appointed by the governor of California. The committee's report on scientific findings and
its recommendations for smog reduction served as a standard reference for later air pollution
control programs. In 1970, President Nixon named Dr. Beckman to a four-year term on the Federal
Air Quality Control Board.
He was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year (1972) by the Orange Coast, California
Community College District for his continuing pollution control work in the state and the
nation, as well as for the development of new instruments that have advanced man's knowledge.
Dr. Beckman was a member of the Board of Overseers of the House Ear Institute, a director of
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. He was also
an honorary trustee of the California Museum Foundation.
Dr. Beckman was past president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce (1956) and the
California State Chamber of Commerce (1967). He was a director of the Security Pacific National
Bank, the Southern California Edison Co., Continental Airlines, SCM Corporation and Stanford
Research Institute. He also served as a director of the Automobile Club of Southern California
and the Southern California Symphony Association, and as chairman of the Board of Trustees
of the System Development Foundation. His long interest in the promotion of good government
led him to help found the Lincoln Club of Orange County, which he served as chairman from its
inception in 1962 until 1978 when he was elected chairman-emeritus.
Dr. Beckman was named "Headliner of the Year" by the Orange County Press Club, and
he served as Southern California chairman for Radio Free Europe and the Orange County Heart
Fund. He was named Humanitarian of the Year by the North Orange County YMCA in 1985.
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Awards |
| 1957 |
Honorary Fellow of The American Institute of Chemists (AIC) |
| 1960 |
"Illini" Achievement Award, University of Illinois |
| 1966 |
Business Statesman Award, Harvard Business School of Southern California |
| 1971 |
Industrialist of the Year Award, California Museum of Science and Industry |
| 1974 |
Outstanding Achievement in Business Management, Southern California School of
Business Administration |
| 1974 |
SAMA Award, Scientific Apparatus Makers Association |
| 1974 |
Service Through Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society |
| 1979 |
Private Enterprise Award, Pepperdine University |
| 1981 |
Distinguished Community Service Award, Americanism Education League |
| 1981 |
ISCO Award, University of Nebraska |
| 1982 |
Man of Science Award, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists' (ARCS's) Foundation |
| 1982 |
Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement |
| 1983 |
Rock of Free Enterprise Award, Economic Development Corporation of Orange County |
| 1983 |
Public Affairs Award, Coro Foundation |
| 1984 |
Outstanding Philanthropist Award, National Society of Fund Raising Executives |
| 1984 |
Vision Award, Luminaires (a support group for the Estelle Doheny Eye
Foundation of Los Angeles) |
| 1987 |
Vermilye Medal (the first of the Benjamin Franklin National Medals), the Franklin Institute |
| 1987 |
National Inventors Hall of Fame, Washington, D.C. |
| 1989 |
Henry Townley Heald Award, Illinois Institute of Technology |
| 1989 |
Charles Lathrop Parsons Award, American Chemical Society |
| 1990 |
High Tech Industry’s Good Scout Award, Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America |
| 1991 |
Achievement Award for Excellence, Center for Excellence in Education in Washington, D.C. |
| 1991 |
The Order of Lincoln, the State of Illinois |
| 1992 |
Bower Award for Business Leadership, The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia |
| 1997 |
Master Entrepreneur of the Year, Ernst & Young |
| 1997 |
Treasure of Los Angeles Award |
| 1998 |
1998 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Award, Chapman University, California |
| 1999 |
Public Welfare Medal, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. |
| 1999 |
Othmer Medal, Chemical Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2001 |
UCI Medal, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California |
| 2001 |
The Jo Gaines Expanding Minds Award, KOCE-TV Foundation, Huntington Beach, California |
| 2004 |
Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Akron, Ohio |
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Academic Affiliations
| Member, Board of Overseers of the University of California at Irvine, California |
| Member, President's Club of the University of Illinois |
| Member, Rockefeller University Council, New York |
| Member, Advisory Board of California State University, Fullerton, California |
| Member, Advisory Board of Chapman College, Orange, California |
| Regional Trustee, Mills College, Oakland, California |
Honorary LL.D. degrees:
- University of California, Riverside, California
- Loyola University, Los Angeles, California
- Pepperdine University, Malibu, California
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Honorary doctor of science degrees:
- University of Illinois
- Chapman College, Orange, California
- Whittier College, Whittier, California
- Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York
- Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois
- Rockefeller University, New York
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Honorary doctor of humane letters degrees:
- California State University, Fullerton, California
- Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
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Patents Issued to Arnold O. Beckman
Patent
Number: |
Title: |
| 1,684,659 |
Signaling Device |
| 2,038,706 |
Inking Reel |
| 2,041,740 |
Inking Device |
| 2,058,761 |
Apparatus for Testing Acidity (pH meter) |
| 2,277,287 |
Coating Materials such as Paper Bread Wrappers |
| 2,302,097 |
Swing Spout Device for Dispensing Liquids |
| 2,348,103 |
Soil Surveying for Oil Deposits |
| 2,351,579 |
Method and Apparatus for Proportioning |
| 2,351,580 |
Method and Apparatus for Proportioning |
| 2,454,986 |
Variable Resistance Device (Helipot®) |
| 2,473,048 |
Variable Resistance Unit |
| 2,613,126 |
Recording Apparatus for Recording Gas Concentrations in the Atmosphere |
| 2,755,243 |
Electrochemical Electrode Structure |
| 3,234,540 |
Meter Pointer Position Monitoring Means Utilizing Heat Absorbing Vane and Thermistors |
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