William Fletcher Talbot (October 29, 1903 – November 1967) was a research chemist and the founding director of SRI International, a position he held from 1946 to 1947.
[4] Initially a teacher, Talbot joined E. I. du Pont as a research chemist.
While on leave from Sun in 1944, he was the assistant director of research and development for the Office of Strategic Services.
[4] During his career, he developed melamine resin, a type of plastic used for molding and casting.
Due to a dispute with Stanford University president Donald Tresidder, he offered his resignation and reluctantly left SRI in December 1947.