Dr. Datus Miller Hammond was a pioneer and world authority in the field of protozoology. He had been invited to give guest lectures and research papers all over the world, including London, Paris, Lille, Clermont-Ferrand, Bonn, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Prague, Leningrad, Moscow, and many other cities. He traveled extensively and had invitations to every European contry, Canada, and the United States.
He was a Fulbright Research Professor at the University of Munich in Germany in 1955-56 and guest professor at the University of Bonn, Germany, for six weeks to one quarter in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, and 1973. European scientists from many countries came to hear his lectures and seminars at these times. In 1961 he was a delegate to the International Congress of Protozoology in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and gave research papers there. In 1965 he attended the International Congress of Protozoology in London and was invited to present research papers also. In 1969 he was a delegate to the International Congress of Protozoology at Leningrad, Russia, and presented scientific papers. In 1972 he was invited to the University of Lille, France, and gave lectures and seminars. In 1973 he was elected president-elect of the International Society of Protozoology at Clermont-Ferrand, France. Previously he had served six years as secretary to that organization. In 1973 he was invited to be an editor of a German scientific magazine, the first American so honored.
He was born May 20, 1911, in Providence, Utah, a son of Horace Edgar Hammond and Salina Tibbetts Hammond. He graduated as valedictorian from the Providence district school; he graduated from South Cache High School in three years with a straight "A" record. In 1932 he graduated from Utah State Agriculture College with high honors. He received the Scholarship "A" award and was elected to Phi Kappa Phi. In 1932-33 he received an appointment as Teaching Fellow in the Department of Zoology at the University of California and was elected to Sigma Xi, national honorary scientific society. In 1933034 he was reappointed as teaching assistant; he was elected to Phi Sigma, national biological society. On May 18, 1934, he received his M.A. degree from the University of California and was appointed Willard Dawson Thompson Memorial Scholar for the year 1934-35. In 1936 he received his PhD. from the University of California and graduated with high honors. He was named a member of Phi Beta Kappa, national honorary society. In 1936 he received an appointment to teach zoology at Utah State University.
On December 23, 1937 he married Emily Merrill in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
For five years he taught zoology at Utah State University. In 1941 he accepted an appointment to do research for the Department of Agriculture. He worked at Beltsville, Maryland for two years; then he worked in Auburn, Alabama, at the United States Regional Laboratory for Animal Disease Research. He had several scientific papers published.
In 1944 in November he returned to Utah State University as Head, Department of Zoology, Physiology, and Entomology. He held this position until July 1, 1973. He was co-author and editor of a book The Coccidia and has published over 120 scientific papers. He gave the Utah State University Faculty Honor Lecture in 1963; in 1969 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in Biological Sciences by the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. In 1972 he was elected president of that organization. In addition he was also a member of Rotary International, American Society of Parasitology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society of Zoologists and American Micros. He was listed in Who's Who in America.
He was greatly beloved by his family, friends, colleagues, and students for his gentle and kindly ways. His wife accompanied him on his extensive overseas travels, and they had wonderful experiences together. His lovely daughters appreciated the great legacy he left them of dedication to truth, honor, and courtesy. His student thought of him as a second father and loved him for his genuine concern for their best interests. He was in charge of 18 PhD's and 32 MA's -- a record at the University.
His daughter are Marie, Louise, Betty, and Marilyn. Datus had great love and pride in his family and rejoiced in their accomplishments.
He served on the Logan Stake Sunday School Board for several years with Dr. Joel Ricks and also the Utah State University Stake Sunday School Board.
His library which has been donated to Utah State University, is the world's greatest collection of protozoology and comprises a lifetime of diligent labor. The books and scientific papers will serve professors and students for years to come.