Dr Jan Georg van der Wath (1907-1968/05/15)

Abstract

J. Georg van der Wath qualified (BVSc) at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort in 1934 and took up an appointment at the Allerton Veterinary Laboratory near Pietermaritzburg. In 1936 he transferred to the Physiology Department at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Laboratory, where he studied the ruminant digestive system in collaboration with J.I. Quin*. He also lectured in physiology in the Veterinary Faculty. In 1942 he obtained the DVSc degree with a thesis entitled Studies on the alimentary tract of the merino sheep, with special reference to the role of the micro-fauna and flora.

Shortly afterwards he resigned and went farming, but his interest and expertise relating to the wool industry subsequently led to his appointment as Chairman of the South African Wool Board (1960), Chairman of the International Wool Secretariat, Chairman of the South Afican Wool Textile Research Institute (1962-1966), and Chairman of the Wool Commission (1965). In recognition of his leading role in the wool industry an honorary doctorate was conferred on him by the University of Port Elizabeth.

In addition to his own scientific contributions he was an accomplished research administrator, a successful farmer, director of several financial organisations, and a member of the Council of the University of Pretoria. At his untimely death in an aircraft disaster at Windhoek airport he owned the Tati Ranch in Botswana, on which remains of the earliest gold mines in southern Africa had been found. (Source: S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science)