William J. Sparks

William Joseph Sparks (1905-1976) was an American polymer chemist who worked for Exxon and is best known as co-inventor of butyl rubber, a synthetic elastomer with wide industrial application. He held 145 patents over his career, served as president of the American Chemical Society in 1966, and chaired the National Research Council's Division of Chemistry and Technology from 1953 to 1955. Sparks argued that science should serve society, writing that science without purpose is an art without responsibility, and advocated for educating young scientists about their obligations to the world. His honors included the Perkin Medal in 1964, the Priestley Medal in 1965, and the Charles Goodyear Medal in 1966, and he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2016; the American Chemical Society's Rubber Division named its Sparks-Thomas Award after him.