February 12, 2026
A plaque in honor of Nobel Laureate Robert H. Grubbs (PTHS '60) was installed today at the STEM classroom in the Paducah Innovation Hub. The plaque reads:
"Born in Marshall County and raised in Paducah, Robert H. Grubbs graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in 1960. His formative years in Paducah laid the foundation for a remarkable career in science and innovation. He earned degrees in chemistry from the University of Florida and Columbia University, later completing postdoctoral work at Stanford.
Grubbs served on the faculty of Michigan State University before joining the California Institute of Technology in 1978, where he became the Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry. In 2005, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry- alongside R. R. Schrock and Y. Chauvin- for his pioneering work in olefin metathesis, a breakthrough in synthetic chemistry.
A prolific inventor and entrepreneur, Grubbs held over 200 U.S. patents and founded multiple companies, including one that commercialized his Nobel-winning catalyst. His innovations also led to FDA-approved synthetic polymers used in cataract lens replacements.
Reflecting on his journey, Grubbs said at his 2005 Paducah Tilghman Hall of Fame induction:
"When I left Tilghman in 1960 as a fair student- maybe top 25- and a mediocre athlete- basketball and high jump- I never dreamed that I would become part of the Tilghman Hall of Fame. It is a great honor to have been chosen. It shows there is hope for everyone."
A scholarship was established as a memorial to Dr. Grubbs. Tilghman seniors who have excelled in science and chemistry and plan to continue their studies in science are eligible to apply for the scholarship. If you would like to donate to this memorial fund, mail a check to PPS Foundation (Grubbs Scholarship), P O Box 2550, Paducah, KY 42002. You may also donate online to the Paducah Schools Foundation at Paducah Public Schools Foundation Endowment.