<p>Legendary</a> Rice professor Robert Curl retiring | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle</p>
<p>Robert Curl never sought the limelight that accompanied the Nobel Prize in Chemistry he won a dozen years ago.</p>
<p>In his quiet way, Curl simply went on teaching, thinking, experimenting and riding his bicycle to Rice University.</p>
<p>It's really true. I've had lunch with the guy more than once, and the first time I did it took me about 15 minutes just to realize who he was.</p>
<p>The first lunch I had with him was a panel discussion on greenhouse gas emissions, and one of the panelists said something about carbon nanotubes, then looked over at Dr. Curl as though to confirm that she wasn't just BSing. He said something mildly sarcastic, and the discussion continued. It was neat.</p>
<p>I saw him in his office 3 times one day when I was lost in one of the chemistry buildings...</p>
<p>yeah. that's all.</p>