Texas Medical Association presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to retired Houston family physician and TAFP member, George C. Alexander, M.D. on May 25, 2000, during a meeting of the TMA House of Delegates. Now residing in Bellville, Texas, Dr. Alexander was honored for his service to organized medicine. As president of the Harris County Medical Society, Alexander led efforts to establish the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. He also served on the Board of Managers of the Harris County Hospital District for 20 years and was the founding chairman of the Greater Houston AIDS Alliance. He was also a member of the TMA delegation to the American Medical Association House of Delegates for 16 years and chaired the delegation for four years.

B.B. "Bonnie" Westbrook, Jr., M.D., 79 of Beaumont died Sept. 21, 2000. A TAFP member since 1956, he succumbed to congestive heart failure at his home in Beaumont. Westbrook served on numerous committees and in several officer positions with the academy through the years, including one term as TAFP President from 1970-71, Even after his retirement, he continued to serve as a leader of TAFP.

At the time of his death, Dr. Westbrook was a member of the TAFP Finance Committee and a representative from the Southeast Texas Chapter to the TAFP Board of Directors. He was recognized in 1985 by receiving the TAFP Distinguished Service Award for his years of service to the academy and to organized medicine.

A devout and dedicated Christian, Dr. Westbrook used his retirement years to travel the world caring for people in need. He participated in many medical mission trips to Mexico, South America, Africa and the Far East. He remained actively involved in the Baptist church and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1999.

Dr. Westbrook is survived by his wife, Bettye Jo Westbrook of Beaumont; sons, Tom and Patrick Westbrook and daughters, Bonnie Ashley and Melinda Deal.

The following awards were presented during TAFP’s 51st Annual Session, July 27-30, 2000, in Austin:

Former TAFP President, Leah Raye Mabry, M.D., R.Ph., of Pleasanton, Texas was honored with two very prestigious awards, Texas Family Physician of the Year and TAFP Foundation Philanthropist of the Year. The Physician of the Year award was designed to honor extraordinary physicians. In addition to providing care for patients in Pleasanton, Mabry also serves as Associate Director of the Christus Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency Program. Mabry has been a dynamic leader for her profession, serving as president, vice president and treasurer of TAFP. She continues to donate her service and leadership to the Academy as one of TAFP’s delegates to the AAFP Congress of Delegates.

Mabry’s generosity was commended in her selection as TAFP Foundation Philanthropist of the Year. The award, created in 1995, is modeled after the AAFP Foundation award to recognize physicians whose contributions have made a significant impact on family medicine. Mabry was instrumental in establishing the James C. Martin, M.D. Scholarship. She donated generously to both the Martin and the S. Perry Post, M.D. Medical Student Scholarship. Mabry will be nominated for the AAFP Family Physician of the Year and the AAFP Foundation Philanthropist of the Year.

Don Wayne Boston, M.D. of Fort Worth, Texas, was honored with the TAFP Physician Emeritus award. Boston was recognized for his many years of service to organized medicine and his community. He donated his leadership to the Tarrant County Medical Society and the TAFP Tarrant County Chapter. He also worked with troubled teens and volunteered in a local orphanage for many years. Now retired, Boston continues to reside in Fort Worth.

Each year the outgoing president is given the opportunity to present the Presidential Award of Merit to individuals who have shown exemplary service on behalf of Texas’ patients and physicians. This year, Marcus M. Purvis, M.D., TAFP President, 1999-2000, decided to honor two individuals: Walter D. Wilkerson, Jr., M.D. and Patty Batts. Wilkerson recently stepped down as chair of the Texas Board of Health after five years of service. Batts recently resigned from her position as Assistant Executive Director of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.

The 3rd Annual TAFPPAC Award was presented to C. Tim Lambert, M.D., of Garland. Lambert’s commitment to and passion for Family Practice is realized through his generous financial contributions to the PAC, as well as his willingness to educate his elected officials on issues important to Family Practice.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center was honored with the Medical School Award of Achievement for meeting the goal of at least 25 percent of graduates entering family medicine. This was the 7th year in a row that UNT has earned this distinction.

Cristen Wall, M.D., Assistant Professor of Family Practice and Community Medicine at UT Southwestern in Dallas, was inducted into the Mental Health Association in Texas’ Ring of Honor for her research in the areas of mental health and mental illness. Specifically, Dr. Wall was recognized for research to improve the manner in which primary care physicians identify mental illnesses. Wall is an active member of TAFP and is Secretary and Treasurer of the Dallas Chapter. The first annual Ring of Honor awards were given on July 21, 2000 in Austin to recognize individuals and organizations who promote mental health issues and who provide effective education and outreach efforts regarding mental illness.

XX

Send an e-mail to Kathy McCarthy, Director of Membership and Member Services or Jonathan Nelson, Editor of Texas Family Physician with as much information as possible.