Herschel Lewis Roman (September 29, 1914[1] – July 2, 1989) was a geneticist famous for popularizing the use of yeast in genetic research.
[3] His father had moved to the United States, intending to bring Herschel and his mother, but they were not able to travel until 1921 because of World War I.
After that, he spent his early years in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin,[3] then in St. Louis, where they had sent Herschel in advance to provide him with an urban high school education.
The University of Washington established its Department of Genetics in June 1959, with Roman as chairman; he held the seat until August 1980.
[4] He remained active in research until his death[1] from stroke at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington, on July 2, 1989, aged 74.