David E. Metzler (1924–2013) was a professor of biochemistry who spent most of his research career at Iowa State University.
He was a pacifist, and a conscientious objector during World War II, and was obligated to pause his studies for public service, which included fighting forest fires and working as an analytical chemist.
After completing his studies at Caltech, Metzler began his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, where he received his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1952 under the supervision of Esmond Snell.
[4] The second edition in 2003, co-authored with his wife and longtime coworker Carol Metzler, was reviewed as exceptionally thorough and useful as a reference text.
They had five children, but were divorced in 1977, and he married Carol Harris in 1978, who spent many years working as a researcher and technician in his laboratory.