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Department of Family Resources and Human Development, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2502 and the
Department of Nutritional Science and Dietetics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806
1To whom correspondence should be addressed.
HAZEL METZ FOX (1921–1989)
When the AmericanHome Economics Association awarded Hazel Metz Fox its Borden Award in 1969, she was described as a woman "concerned with nutrition in the broadest sense of the word." These words describe Fox aptly, for she was a multifaceted researcher, teacher, and long-time administrator. More importantly, though, Fox's students and colleagues considered her a great mentor in the nutritional sciences; they also admired her approach to life.
Hazel Metz was born in Barton, Maryland, in 1921. She was the only child of Jefferson and Blanche Metz. Although she came from a family of limited resources—the child of a coal miner and a former school teacher—she worked diligently throughout her life to become an internationally known scientist.
Fox began her collegiate studies locally at Western Maryland College in Westminster where she earned a BA in Home Economics Education in 1943. Fox followed in the footsteps of her mother and became a teacher in the Maryland Public School system. After 2 y of teaching, she became discontented with her occupation and returned to school to pursue a graduate degree.
Fox chose Iowa State University because of its exceptional nutrition program and because it offered her financial aid. Through her hard work in the laboratory and the classroom, Fox earned her MS in Human Nutrition in 1947. Following graduation, Fox moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she was offered a position as a dietitian in a children's hospital. This move proved to be a prosperous venture, in more ways than one, because Detroit was the home of Allan "Buster" Fox, her future husband.
After a 3-y absence, Fox returned to Iowa State University with her husband and earned her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition in 1954. After receiving her degree, she remained at Iowa State University for an additional year as an instructor.
Her career experienced a significant boost when she was offered an associate professor position at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where she would remain until her retirement on June 30, 1987. Because of her strengths as a faculty member, Fox was promoted to professor and became the first chair of the newly organized Department of Food and Nutrition (now the Department of Nutritional Science and Dietetics) in 1962. In addition, Fox served as the acting director of the School of Home Economics for the 1962–63 academic year. In her administrative roles, Fox was responsible for hiring and leading faculty, building upon the strong framework started by Dr. Ruth Leverton. Fox was an active supporter of the faculty, particularly nurturing to new faculty members who were fresh out of graduate school. Fox expected a faculty member to meet high standards. She was quick to praise, but also honest enough to acknowledge when an employee was not performing as anticipated.
As an administrator, Fox strove to provide a curriculum that was up to date and pertinent to the needs of nutrition students. Through the work of Fox, the department developed a master's program and a dietetic internship in institutional management approved by the American Dietetic Association. During her administration, the department also developed a program in community nutrition, and a cross-cultural option in nutrition was instituted to appeal to an increasing number of international students drawn to the department's graduate program. Fox's wisdom and foresight (acknowledged among her peers by many invitations to national and international proceedings on nutrition) were often viewed by students and colleagues as overwhelming. Her pioneering efforts in the field of nutrition education led to ever-increasing enrollment in her department.
One of Fox's duties at the University of Nebraska was to work in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension Service. Her years in the Midwest gave her good understanding of the needs of rural families. Fox was interested in all aspect of Extension, from administration to consumer education. She was always willing to disseminate basic nutrition knowledge and current findings in research to the lay person. She displayed genuine enthusiasm in creating public appreciation for Extension services, both at the county and university level.
Much of Fox's success was rooted in her research. She worked with her
fellow faculty member, Dr. Constance Kies, on many projects on the
feasibility of using urea and other nonprotein nitrogen sources to
improve nitrogen balance in humans (Kies and Fox 1978
,
Kies et al. 1973
, Korslund et al. 1977
).
Kies and Fox established that low-quality protein could be used to
normalize nitrogen balance (Kies and Fox 1970
), and
their advances in protein metabolism research earned Fox an invitation
to speak at the 1967 Minnesota Winter Seminars on World Food Problems,
where she presented her paper Protein Possibilities for a Hungry
World.
Fox was credited for her resourcefulness in using human subjects, which
procured many advances in nutritional research. The studies performed
at the Nebraska Penal and Correction Complex-Dormitory Unit in
Lincoln, where her husband worked, are a true testament to her
creativity in methodology. Gaining permission for experimentation from
her husband's employer presented a unique opportunity for conducting
protein modification feeding studies in a controlled setting. The study
showed that when nonspecific nitrogen supplementation was used, less
time was required to regain and stabilize nitrogen balance in men
(Kies et al. 1967
).
Protein metabolism was not the only area of interest for Fox. Her
concern with maternal and child health led to many studies involving
nutritional status. As a teacher and mentor, she prepared various
clinical experiences for her students through the Women, Infants, and
Children Program (WIC), and many extension projects offered a great
opportunity for students to explore their interests in public health.
As is the case today, Fox recognized that "little is known about the
nutrient requirements or nutrient intakes of [preschool children]"
(Fox et al. 1971
). With her knowledge of nutrition
throughout the life cycle, Fox did not believe it was
appropriate to use data collected on adults to make dietary
recommendations for children. Working through the North Central
Regional Research Committee, which she chaired for many years, Fox used
her laboratory to analyze anthropometric assessment and urinary
excretion of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, nitrogen,
and creatinine. Her research established differences in nutritional
status and dietary habits between preschool children of lower and
higher socioeconomic status. This proved to be a landmark study because
such a biochemical comparison based on household income had not been
explored previously (Crispin et al. 1968
, Kerrey
et al. 1968
).
Another large-scale study of the North Central Regional Research
Committee demonstrated that, although preschool children's intakes of
calcium and phosphorus were adequate, their intakes of iron were
considered to be inadequate (Fox et al. 1971
). Under
Fox's supervision, trained interviewers obtained three-day dietary
consumption records for 2,000 preschool children to establish trends in
nutrient intake. Her research was of great assistance to community
nutritionists who were able to prioritize their educational programs so
that children's nutrient needs could be met.
Although she was an able chemist, Fox also used survey methodology to
conduct research. For example, she developed questionnaires to assess
the attitudes and practices of physicians regarding infant feeding
recommendations and nutrition indices (Milton and Fox 1978
). She also designed a questionnaire to quantify the
nutrition knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of female athletes
(Werblow and Fox 1978
). To evaluate the efficacy of
nutritional education on food choices, Fox studied whether whole wheat
bread and navel oranges would sell better with the distribution of
educational leaflets or food samples at the point of sale. She found
that both were effective in promoting new or uncommonly purchased foods
(Fox and Shields 1980
).
Although the requirements of research, administration, and teaching kept her busy, Fox did find time in her schedule to write. Her intrinsic desire and overwhelming ability to write led to many publications throughout her career. A review of her bibliography reveals her multifaceted approach to nutrition. Fox's publications have appeared in The Journal of Nutrition, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Federation Proceedings, and Nutrition Reports International, as well as many others.
Fox was recognized and respected on regional, national, and international levels, and she received many awards and honors throughout her 32-y career. Praised by the students of the University of Nebraska's School of Home Economics, Fox was honored with the Outstanding Professor Award in 1967; the following year, Fox was named Distinguished Professor by the College of Home Economics. As a symbol of her accomplishments, in 1970 Fox became a Regents Professor. These acknowledgments were accompanied by an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Western Maryland College in 1969 and the 1971 Alumni Award conferred by Iowa State University.
As a scientist, Fox was honored in 1969 as a recipient of the Borden Award of the American Home Economics Association for whom she spent many years as section chair and as a member of the Board of Directors. In 1969, her research efforts were further recognized when she was invited to speak at the Eighth International Congress on Nutrition in Prague. Her accomplishments in research across the spectrum of nutrition earned her the Outstanding Dietitian Award from the Nebraska Dietetic Association in 1984, and her ability to incorporate a professional career with a meaningful and healthy family life earned her the State of Nebraska Great American Family Award in 1986.
Fox was a member of the American Institute of Nutrition (now the American Society for Nutritional Sciences), the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, the American Society for Advancement of Science, the American Dietetic Association, and the Society for Nutrition Education. She also served as the chairman of the North Central Region Teachers of Food and Nutrition and the national president of Sigma Delta Epsilon. Fox was selected to serve on the distinguished Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council in the National Academy of Sciences.
Fox's household was multigenerational; she opened her home to her mother, who was glad to lend a hand in supervising Fox's five children while their parents were working. Fox's children appreciated their grandmother's presence and appreciated "having two moms and a dad." Fox had a close relationship with all of her children. She was very accepting and concerned as a mother, and she enjoyed traveling together as a family. Fox, as always, encouraged those around her to excel, and the fact that all of her children have at least a master's degree greatly pleased her.
Fox's family suffered a great loss when her mother, Blanche, became ill and passed away in March of 1989. Soon after this loss, at the age of 68, Fox herself became ill and was admitted to Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln. She was diagnosed with vasculitis, and on September 8, 1989, died of complications with pneumonia. Dr. Fox is buried in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is survived by her five children, Jefferson, Margaret, Allan, Robert, and Frank, along with nine grandchildren.
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REFERENCES
1. Crispin S., Kerry E., Fox H., Kies C. Nutritional status of preschool children. II. Anthropometric measurements and interrelationships. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1968;21:1280-1284[Abstract]
2. Fox H. M., Shields C. Effect of leaflets vs. food samples on food purchasing. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1980;77:692-694[Medline]
3. Fox H. M., Fryer B. A., Lamkin G., Vivian V. M., Eppright E. S. Diets of preschool children in the north central region. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1971;59:233-237[Medline]
4. Kerry E., Crispin S., Fox H., Kies C. Nutritional status of preschool children. I. Dietary and biochemical findings. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1968;21:1274-1279[Abstract]
5. Kies C., Fox H. M. Effect of total nitrogen on second limiting amino acid in corn for humans. J. Nutr. 1970;100:1275-1285
6. Kies C., Fox H. M. Urea as a dietary supplement for humans. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 1978;105:103-116[Medline]
7. Kies C, Fox H. M., Williams E. R. Time, stress, quality, and quantity as factors in the nonspecific nitrogen supplementation of corn protein for adult men. J. Nutr. 1967;93:377-385
8. Kies C., Tobin R. B., Fox H. M., Mehlman A. M. Utilization of 1: 3-butanediol and nonspecific nitrogen in human adults. J Nutr 1973;103:1155-1163
9.
Korslund M. K., Kies C., Fox H. M. Protein nutrition value of urea supplementation of opaque-2 corn for adolescent boys. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1977;30:371-374
10. Milton S. E., Fox H. M. Nebraska physicians' attitudes and practices in the field of infant feeding and nutrition. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1978;73:416-419[Medline]
11. Werblow J. A., Fox H. M., Henneman A. Nutritional knowledge, attitudes and food patterns of women athletes. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1978;73:242-245[Medline]
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