Seventy-four male eminent social scientists provided career stage data by which adult development theory was tested. All were born between 1893 and 1903 and met the criteria of a distinguished (and for several still active) scholarly career. The subjects were separated into four groups on the basis of their degree of productivity as of age 60. Critical career events were content analyzed and compared. Distinct career paths through and beyond retirement emerged. Among other things, the active publishers have had a less varied career in terms of the different academic roles possible in colleges and universities. Obtaining the Ph.D. followed by research in one setting well beyond retirement characterize these individuals. The moderately active and inactive publishers began with high school teaching and administration, later had college posts as department heads or deanships, and reported sharper separation from academic work at age 65. The data for these distinguished social scientists do not corroborate psychological adult development theories. There are distinct career events, but not necessarily distinct stages; those stages that do occur do not cluster at either definable chronological or career ages. The different patterns, however, have important implications for healthy and productive academic careers. (Author)