David Albert Preston passed away January 16, 2017 at the age of 77. Preston attained a Masters in Microbiology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1966. After serving in the military until 1968 as an instructor in the Chemical Corp at Ft. McClellen in Anniston, Alabama, he joined Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his professional career. In his 32-year tenure with Lilly, 29 were spent in discovery and clinical development of antibacterial antibiotics with the Infectious Diseases Research Division and 3 years in Global Marketing. He was a respected scientific author, with many antibiotic development-related scientific publications to his credit.

After retiring, Preston became an active member of local art and woodturner groups. For over sixty years he played guitar and sang Bluegrass and gospel music alongside beloved childhood friends, as “The Brothers.”

Preston was a long-time member of the American Society for Microbiology (40+ years). He served on ASM’s ICAAC Programming Committee (1990-1995), and on the ICAAC Young Investigator Award Committee (1993-1994).