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Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, Vice-president of the Friends, and his wife, Dottie, Treasurer, announced their plans to retire from the Board after ten years of service. Both stated that the decision was a difficult one but that they are trying to cut back on their responsibilities. Dr. Thomas is now 80 years old and Dottie celebrated her 78th birthday in September. "It is time for new blood to take over," Dr. Thomas said.

"We discussed with Mr. Carreras our desire to resign when we were in Barcelona in April, but we did not want to make it official until we had some plans for filling the vacancies," Dottie said.

Dr. Rainer Storb, Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and Member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will take over Dr. Thomas’s position with the Friends. He will also head the Scientific Advisory Board of our affiliated foundation in Barcelona, involved with the selection of the fellowship winners. Dr. Storb joined the Thomas research team in 1965 as a Fulbright fellow and has been a most productive member of the team ever since. He is the author or co-author of over 1,100 scientific publications and is a frequent speaker at national and international meetings.

Dr. Beverly Torok-Storb will take over Dottie’s title of Treasurer. Dr. Torok-Storb, a Ph. D. in radiation biology and human genetics, is currently a Research Professor at the University of Washington and a Member of the Hutchinson Center. She has been associated with the Thomas research units since 1977. Her current work focuses on the marrow microenvironment and stem cell production. She is active in community projects to bring local high school science teachers and students to the Center for workshops and hands-on experience in the laboratory.

It was agreed at the Board meeting in September that the Thomases would stay on through a transition period to work jointly with the Storbs.