Norman Topping

Norman Topping
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Name	Norman Topping
Birth date	20 August 1908
Birth place	Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Death date	15 December 1997
Death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	University of Utah (BS), University of Pennsylvania (MD)
Occupation	Physician, university administrator, public health official
Known for	President of the University of Southern California, Public health research
Spouse	Nellie (née Diehl)

Norman Topping was an American physician, public health researcher, and academic administrator who served as the president of the University of Southern California from 1958 to 1970. His tenure oversaw a period of dramatic physical expansion and academic growth for the university, transforming it into a major national research institution. A specialist in infectious diseases, he had a distinguished prior career with the United States Public Health Service and the National Institutes of Health. Topping was also a prominent civic leader in Los Angeles, involved in numerous cultural and philanthropic organizations.

Early life and education

Born in Salt Lake City, he was the son of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bishop and attended local public schools. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah in 1930, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Topping then pursued his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, graduating in 1934. He completed his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital before beginning his long association with the federal government's public health apparatus.

Medical career and research

Joining the United States Public Health Service in 1936, Topping quickly became involved in significant epidemiological work. He served as director of the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana, focusing on diseases like typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. During World War II, he was assigned to the Office of Scientific Research and Development, contributing to research on influenza and other threats to military personnel. After the war, he rose to become assistant director of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and later directed the National Microbiological Institute, playing a key role in the early development of polio vaccines.

University of Southern California presidency

In 1958, he was recruited to become the eighth president of the University of Southern California, succeeding Fred D. Fagg Jr.. His administration was marked by unprecedented growth, including the construction of over fifty major buildings such as the Norman Topping Tower, the Davidson Conference Center, and the Von KleinSmid Center. He aggressively expanded graduate programs, established new schools including the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and significantly increased the university's endowment and research funding. His leadership through the turbulent 1960s included navigating significant student protests while maintaining the institution's academic trajectory.

Civic and philanthropic activities

Beyond the campus, he was deeply engaged in the civic life of Los Angeles. He served on the boards of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and the Southern California Symphony Association. Topping was a trustee for the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens and the California Institute of Technology. He also held leadership roles with the American Council on Education and was a member of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, advocating for the role of universities in international affairs.

Awards and legacy

His numerous honors included the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences and the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He received honorary degrees from institutions like the University of Utah and the University of Pennsylvania. The Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, a landmark endowment supporting low-income students at USC, stands as a lasting testament to his commitment to educational access. Upon his retirement, the university's faculty tower was renamed in his honor, cementing his legacy as a transformative figure in the history of Los Angeles and American higher education.

Category:1908 births Category:1997 deaths Category:American physicians Category:University of Southern California faculty Category:Presidents of the University of Southern California Category:American public health doctors