W. R. S. Garton (William Reginald Stephen) was born in 1912. He earned degrees in physics from Imperial College London, ultimately earning his D.Sc. in 1958 after a break in studies to serve in World War II and to begin his teaching career as Lecturer and Reader. In 1964, he was appointed Professor of Spectroscopy. Throughout his career, he made many contributions to the field, and he was recognized with many honors, including OSA’s William F. Meggers Award in 1976. He was later elected a Fellow of OSA in 1979.

Garton passed away in 2002.