On Jun. 26, 1994, the American Chemical Society announced that Derek Barton was selected to receive the 1995 Priestley Medal “to recognize distinguished services to chemistry.” 

Barton was a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. The 1969 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1969 was awarded jointly to Derek H. R. Barton and Odd Hassel “for their contributions to the development of the concept of conformation and its application in chemistry.”