Sad news this week ~ But he has a library named after him -- which I find extremely cool!
THOMPSON, , DR. JESSE ELDON Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the death of Dr. Jesse Eldon Thompson, former Chief of Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center and a pioneer in the development of vascular surgery. Dr. Thompson passed away February 25 at his home in Dallas following a long illness. He was 88. On April 16, 1957, Jesse Thompson performed the first carotid endarterectomy for stroke at Baylor University Medical Center, becoming the first surgeon to perform this procedure in Dallas. He was one of 37 physicians featured in the 1992 book, Band of Brothers: Creators of Modern Vascular Surgery. Jesse Thompson has been recognized worldwide for his contributions in the field of vascular surgery, especially in carotid artery surgery. He considered one of his most significant contributions to be the development of a post-residency vascular surgery fellowship program at Baylor University Medical Center in 1964. Within 34 years, a total of 89 young surgeons had completed the fellowship program. In 1978, the doctors who trained under Jesse's watchful eye felt so highly of him that they organized The Jesse E. Thompson Vascular Society in his honor. In 1988, after his retirement as Chief of Surgery, Jesse's peers established The Jesse E. Thompson Surgical Education and Research Endowment. In 1991, Baylor dedicated a library in his honor and in 2005, he received the Baylor University Medical Center Foundation Wings of Eagles Award for his lifetime dedication to vascular surgery. Jesse Thompson was born April 7, 1919, in Laredo, Texas. His father, Jesse Eathel Thompson, was a farmer-rancher and his mother, Sara Gail Bolton, was the daughter of a Mississippi judge and state legislator. Jesse graduated from San Benito High School in 1935 as class valedictorian where he lettered in football and track, participated in debate team, the school newspaper, marching band and orchestra. He served as president of both his junior and senior classes and was an Eagle Scout. At 16, he entered the University of Texas in Austin where he worked his way through college as an assistant in the Department of Zoology. While at UT, Jesse lettered in track and served as captain of the 1938 cross-country team. He was elected to Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society as a freshman and elected Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med Honor Society his junior year. He graduated in 1939 with highest honors. He won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, but because of World War II, had to defer the scholarship. He entered Harvard Medical School, graduating cum laude and took his residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital where he met his future bride, Madeleine Jane Curtis. They married in September 1944. Jesse served in the Army during World War II as Chief of Neurosurgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital attaining the rank of Captain. In 1949, Jesse was able to take his Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University, simultaneously holding a Fulbright Fellowship and Rockefeller Grant. Subsequently, he spent four years as a full-time faculty member of the Boston University School of Medicine. Returning to his beloved Texas, Jesse moved his family to Dallas to begin his general and vascular surgery practice at Baylor University Medical Center. Jesse Thompson served in leadership positions with more than 18 medical and surgical societies including the prestigious American College of Surgeons and the American Surgical Association. He served as president of the Dallas County Medical Society, the Texas Surgical Society, the Society for Vascular Surgery and the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. Jesse's bibliography includes more than 175 publications. In 1972, as President of the Texas Surgical Society, he delivered an address on the Spanish Explorer Cabeza de Vaca, considered to be the first surgeon in Texas, which he delivered countless times all over the world. An avid Texas Ex, Jesse was awarded a Gold Medallion of Excellence by the University of Texas as one of 100 Outstanding Alumni. Jesse Thompson was a member of the Highland Park United Methodist Church, the Dallas Country Club and the first physician to join the Dallas Petroleum Club. Above and beyond his many scholastic and surgical accomplishments, Jesse was a humble Texas boy with a tremendous love for his family, a great intellectual curiosity, a clever wit and boundless energy. He felt deep compassion for his patients and took tremendous pride in the accomplishments of his trainees. Preceded in death by his parents and sister, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, Madeleine; daughter Sally McPherson and her husband, Ted, of Dallas; son Dr. Jesse Thompson, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Alice Glasser, of Los Angeles; daughter Janet Thompson-Boynton of Dallas; daughter Diane Thompson-Taylor and her husband, Chris, of Los Angeles; 8 grandchildren: Beth and Edward McPherson, Nate and Julianne Thompson, Mackay and Sara Boynton, and Joseph and Michael Taylor. The family would like to thank his skilled and loving caregivers, especially Mary Ayala, Deborah Blakeley, and Vicki Lincoln. A memorial service will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church, Thursday, February 28 at 4:00 pm with the Reverend Bill Smith officiating. Memorials may be made to Baylor Health Care System Foundation: Thompson Fund, 3600 Gaston Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas, 75246 or the charity of your choice. Personal thoughts and memories may be left at www.mem.com.
Dignity Memorial Sparkman Hillcrest 7405 W. Northwest Hwy. Dallas (214) 363-5401
Obituaries, Notices
Published in the Dallas Morning News from 2/27/2008 - 2/28/2008
http://www.legacy.com/DallasMorningNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=104368695
