In memory of R. Scott Hawley (October 8, 1953–January 31, 2025)

GSA is sad to learn of the passing of R. Scott Hawley, esteemed friend, colleague, and mentor to many. A pioneer of Drosophila and meiosis research and a long-time member, GSA Journals editor and author, and former GSA President, Hawley leaves a profound void in the genetics community and the lives of all he touched, along with a legacy beyond comparison.

Hawley, an investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and leader of the Hawley Lab, was a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was GSA President in 2010 and served on the GSA Board of Directors for several years, starting as a Director in 1996. He was a dedicated author and Senior Editor for the GSA Journals GENETICS and G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, greatly contributing to the vision for and founding of G3. He was also co–Editor-in-Chief of FlyBook.  

In 2008, he received the GSA Award for Excellence in Education (see article in GENETICS), known today as the Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education—Hawley was the first recipient after Elizabeth Jones in 2007. In 2013 he received another GSA Award, the George W. Beadle Award (see article in GENETICS). 

Hawley attended the Annual Drosophila Research Conference for many years and served as Program Chair of the Dros Organizing Committee in 2002. He was also a dedicated donor, ensuring many Society programs that help scientists of all career stages, doing work in genetics and genomics, continued to operate and grow. 

Hawley served on several GSA committees including the Nominating Committee, Publications Committee, Awards Committee, Meetings/Conferences Committee, Finance Committee, Education Committee, and the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics Committee. Hawley was an ardent supporter of the DeLill Nasser Award—dubbing Nasser the “patron saint” of genetics—which has helped countless early career scientists to attend conferences and complete lab courses (see In Memoriam written by Hawley for Nasser in GENETICS).

As a mentor to more than 45 postdocs and graduate students, and even staff here at GSA, Scott embodied the spirit of collaboration, mentorship, and led with humility, humor, and true wisdom. He will be greatly missed by all.