Howard T. Ricketts

(1871-1910) lived in Lincoln. Pathologist, discovered tick infected by microorganisms is carrier of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and confirmed that a similar organism in the body louse transmitted typhus, the taxonomic genus to which these diseases belong was named Rickettsia by his scientific peers. He also pioneered the use of laboratory animals for inoculation experiments and disease identification, and his work on immunity and serums became the basis for further advances in vaccine development. Consult Lincoln Sunday Journal & Star, May 30, 1954, p. B-3 and Dictionary of Science Biography, Vol 11 (Scribner's, 1980) 442-443 and American National Biography, Vol 18 (1999) 477-478.

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