Alexander M. Cruickshank
(Director from 1968-1993)
Alexander M. Cruickshank is Director Emeritus of the Gordon Research Conferences.
Alex was born in Marlboro, New Hampshire December 13, 1919. He moved to Westerly, Rhode Island
at age 10. He took his B.S. in chemistry at Rhode Island State College in 1943. While working at
Rhode Island State College as an instructor he took his M.S. in chemistry in 1945. He earned his
Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts in 1954. Alex served on the chemistry faculty
at the University of Rhode Island from 1953 to 1982 and was Chair of the Chemistry Department from
1976 to 1982.
The Gordon Research Conferences moved from Gibson Island in Maryland to Colby Junior College,
New London, New Hampshire in 1947. In that summer of 1947, Alex Cruickshank spent 10 weeks as
the site manager for the Gordon Research Conferences and his wife, Irene, served as Conference
secretary. Alex continued as the New Hampshire operations manager and Assistant Director for
GRC until 1968. When George Parks retired as Director, Alex assumed that position. He served as
Director until his retirement in 1993 (a total of 47 years of service with GRC).