Sigma Alpha Mu honors the rich contributions provided by Melvin DeGroote (Psi, ’20). Fra DeGroote was an American chemist and prolific inventor. He is celebrated as one of America’s greatest inventors, with over 950 U.S. patents to his name. In 2000, TIME magazine’s millennium issue recognized him as one of the most prolific inventors in the country, based on the number of patents he held. Notably, he was second only to Thomas Edison on this list.
Fra DeGroote invented and patented many of the de-emulsifying agents that separate crude oil from impurities crucial to the process of oil production. He also invented the chemical recipe that allows chocolate to stick to ice cream, leading to the creation of the Eskimo Pie.
The significant achievements of Fra Melvin DeGroote exemplify the profound impact Jewish Americans have had on American history.
