Source: The Southern Jewish Weekly: February 12, 1954
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By Morris J. Janoff

Dr. Albert Schatz, 33-year-old brilliant scientist of Fairview, N. J. was honored in Seattle, Wash., by the U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, as one of the 10 outstanding young Americans of 1953.

Now professor of microbiology and director of the research laboratories at the National Agricultural College in Pennsylvania, Dr. Schatz was co-discoverer with Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Selman Waksman of the wonder drug, streptomycin.

An alumnus of Rutgers University, Dr. Schatz was doing graduate work at the college in 1943 when he and Dr. Waksman discovered streptomycin, which was born out of soil research.

Won Due Recognition

Dr. Schatz, however, had to start legal action before he received the recognition due him. Three years ago, an out-of-court settlement was reached between Dr. Schatz and Dr. Waksman in which Dr. Schatz was officially acknowledged as the co-discoverer of the wonder drug and rightfully entitled to share the royalties which is estimated will amount to about $625,000.

When the announcement was made that Dr. Waksman was to receive the Nobel Prize, a move was started to have the noted Rutgers University scientist, Dr. Waksman, share the award with Dr. Schatz. It was pointed out that in 1945, the Nobel Award was shared by Sir Alexander Fleming, Dr. Ernest Boris Chain and Sir Howard Walter Florey as the joint discoverers of penicillin. However, no further action was ever taken by the Caroline Institute of the University of Stockholm, Sweden, which makes the awards,

Spent Youth in Passaic

Dr. Schatz was born in Norwich, Conn. His parents moved to Passaic when he was two years old. He attended Passaic public schools, was given a religious training and was bar mitzvahed at the Adas Israel Synagogue in Passaic.

The Schatz family resides in a newly developed section of Fair Lawn at 15-02 - 11th St. Dr. Schatz is married to the former Vivian Rosenfeld, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rosnfield, of Passaic. Mrs. Schatz is active in Hadassah. Her father is principal of a Clifton grammar school. Dr. Schatz' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jules Schatz, also reside in Fair Lawn. The elder Schatz is in the construction business.

Plans To Visit Israel

Dr. Schatz is vitally interested in the problems confronting our people. He has a keen interest in Israel and hopes to visit the country next year.

In his position at the National Agricultural College, Dr. Schatz is now working on projects dealing with attempts to understand cancer formation and new ways to control plant diseases.

He is the author and co-author of more than 53 scientific publications, including a recent text on microbiology.

Last fall he was appointed one of six vice-presidents at the Sixth International Congress for Microbiology held in Rome, Italy. He is one of the youngest men ever to receive such a high honor.

After leaving Rutgers in 1946, Dr. Schatz was associated with the New York State Health Department in Albany as a biochemist, Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York, the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University in College. He joined the staff of the Pennsylvania Farm College in 1952.

Dr. Schatz continues to devote his life to combatting major diseases suffered by humans and plant life so that mankind can enjoy a healthier and longer life, more economic production of food, and the better control of natural resources,