Sterling Brown Hendricks was an American agriculturist notable for his research on the structural aspects of organic and inorganic chemistry, soil chemistry and plant physiology and nutrition. Hendricks was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the National Medal of Science from President Gerald Ford. Hendricks also was Chief Chemist, Beltsville Plant Industry Station, chief scientist of the Mineral Nutrition Laboratory, and a recipient of the Award for Distinguished Civilian Service. He was born on April 13, 1902. The Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lectureship was established in 1981 by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture to honor the memory of Sterling B. Hendricks and to recognize scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the chemical science of agriculture. He died on January 4, 1981 in Novato, California, United States.