Florence M. Foote (1911-2008) and Charles L. Foote (1912-1963)

Charles L. and Florence M. Foote joined the Department of Zoology in 1947.  They published and did research together in vertebrate embryology and anatomy.  In 1950, Florence took a position with the newly autonomous Department of Physiology.  Charles continued in the Department of Zoology.

Charles and Florence were married in Utica, New York, on 25 August 1941.  Sadly, on 27 November 1963, Charles died.  Florence remained in Carbondale and continued to do her scientific work and serve SIU.  She was active in both campus and community affairs.  She died at the age of 96 on 5 February 2008.  She was born in Montague City, Massachusetts, on 28 June 1911 to Lawrence S. and Mabel (Fields) Martindale.  In 1932 and 1934 respectively, she earned her BA and MA degrees from Mt. Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts).  She received her PhD in 1940 from the State University of Iowa.  She taught in Massachusetts, Delaware, and New York (Wagner College) before moving to SIU to lecture in physiology.

Charles was born in Haskell, Texas, on 5 October 1912.  In 1934 and 1936 respectively, he received his BS and MS degrees from Northern Texas State Teachers College and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.  Like Florence, he earned his PhD degree in 1940 from the State University of Iowa.  They moved to New York and Charles taught at Wagner College (1941-42; 1946-47) before accepting an associate professor position at SIU.

Through the SIU Foundation, two annual awards are established in the names of Charles and Florence Foote to honor outstanding students in the Zoology program.  One of these awards is the "Charles L. Foote Achievement Award" established to honor a student for conspicuous development as a scholar, dedication to research, outstanding teaching, meritorious publication or presentation, or leadership.  The second award is the "Florence M. and Charles L. Foote Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant in Zoology" presented to the teaching assistant(s) who demonstrated the most outstanding performance during the academic year.

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Last updated: 8-Feb-08 / ghw