Donald Pitts: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University

Donald Pitts

Awards

School of Optometry Foley House Basement Key Award - 1978

About Donald Pitts

Donald Graves Pitts was born in Hagarville, Ark. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1944 where he trained as an electrical mechanical gunner on B-29's. Prior to his discharge in September of 1946, he participated in photographing "Operation Crossroads" - the Marshall Islands testing of the effects of the atom bomb.

After the war, Don married and moved to Memphis Tennessee where he enrolled in Southern College of Optometry and graduated from optometry school in 1950. They moved to Tulsa, OK and he opened a private practice.

Unfortunately, Dr. Pitts was recalled into the Air Force at the start of the Korean War. While in the Air Force, he was sent to graduate school for his Master's and PHD degrees.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1969, Pitts moved to Houston, Texas where he was a professor of Physiological Optics and Optometry. Additionally, he served as Associate Dean of Optometry, Environmental Optometry Track Coordinator, Optics Track Coordinator, and Chair of the Faculty all while conducting extensive research on the effects of UV radiation on the eye. He spoke in places such as Canada, London, South Africa, Denmark and Sweden on the results of his research.

A few of his honors and awards are: post-doctorate fellow from the National Academy of Sciences and Air Force Systems Command, Glen A. Fry Award and medal, Foley House Award, Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, George H. Giles Memorial Lecture, certificates of recognition and appreciation from the American Optometric Association, elected life member of both the American and the Texas Optometric Association, Professor Emeritus, Optometry and Visual Science, University of Houston, Texas.

In 1978, Dr. Pitts was presented with the Indiana University School of Optometry Foley House Basement Key Award which recognizes an alumnus who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and/or service to the IU School of Optometry. He retired from the University of Houston in 1994.