1934
Dr
2012
Dr Thomas Roy Turner
March 17, 1934 — January 15, 2012
Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 20, at the Kwahadi Museum, 9151 I-40 East. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia.
Thomas Roy Turner was born March 17, 1934 to Roy and Dorothy Turner in Amarillo, Texas. He married Sue Britten in 2002 in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1952 and pursued general engineering from Texas A&M University. He graduated from TCU in 1956. He began his medical education at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston in 1960, earning a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Turner continued his post-graduate education in surgery from 1960-61 at St. Agnes Hospital, Philadelphia; 1961-63 Texas Dept. of Mental Health Mental Retardation, Austin State Hospital, Neuropsychiatry.
Tom joined the US Navy in 1966, where he began his military career as Regimental Surgeon of the 1st Infantry Training Regiment, US Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In 1967 he was a student at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. From 1967 until 1969 Tom served as the Officer in Charge of Emergency Receiving and Heat Casualty treatment Unit of the US Marine Corps in Parris Island, South Carolina. It was here that Tom was instrumental developing the methods of cooling the body down and the training movies used to assist in the treatment of veterans for heat exhaustion. In 1969 he was a student in the Field Medical Service School in Shock Resuscitation Training at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital in North Carolina From July 1969 to January 1970 He served as Commanding Officer, “A” Shock/Resuscitation Team 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam and as the Chief of Professional Services of Admitting and Sorting/ Triage 1st Medical Btn.; from April 1969 until August 1696 Tom served as Commanding Officer 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam. From September 1969 until August 1973 he was the Assistance Force Surgeon, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Medical Delegate and Southeast Asia treaty Organization in Honolulu and Bangkok, Thailand.
In 1975 until 1977 Tom worked in private practice in Family Medicine in Tulsa, OK. He served as the Clinical Instructor of Family Practice at the University of Oklahoma.
In August 1984 he became staff physician at the Minor Emergency Center in Amarillo; 1985 he was staff physician of Bell Avenue Emergency Center, now Baptist Hospital Urgent Care Center. In 1985 until 1987 Tom served as Medical Director and staff Physician of the Emergency Department of Central Plains Regional Hospital in Plainview, Texas and as the Medical Director of the Plainview Fire Department, EMS. He also served as the Medical Director of the emergency Department of the Lakeland Medical Center and the Medical Director of the Henderson Country EMS in Athens, Texas. In 1988 until June of 1990 he served of the Medical Director in the Emergency Department and the Medical Director of Lifeline EMS at Bethania Regional Health Care Center in Wichita Falls, TX. He also served as Wichita General Hospital Medical Director and Physician Coordinator Paramedic School at Vernon Regional Junior College.
Having been raised in Amarillo, Dr. Turner had the opportunity to know and work with the local medical community. He served on the medical staff of St. Anthony’s Hospital prior to joining the Veterans Health System in 1992 as Chief of Staff of the Mental Health Department and as an Acting Chief of Staff in concert with other service chiefs where diligently served fellow veterans until his death. He has also worked with Texas Tech Health Science Center as a mentor of students and medical residents.
Dr. Turner was a Captain in the US Naval Reserve. He was a member of the Association of Military Physicians and Surgeons, Aerospace Medical Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Hobbies included horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, literature, and painting. However, some of his favorite times were those he spent with his family and attending special activities for his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Sue; three daughters, Shawn Mannie of Austin, Annett Waxler of Amarillo and Shelly Britten of Umbarger; four sons, Tom Turner, Jr. of San Leandro, California; Andy Waxler of Happy, Leo Britten of Canyon, and Cody Britten of Groom; and numerous grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to Will Rogers Junior Range Riders Program, PO Box 19008, Amarillo, TX 79114; or to Kwahadi Heritage, Inc., PO Box 32125, Amarillo, TX 79120-2125; or 7 Star Therapeutic Riding, P.O. Box 50635, Amarillo, TX 79159
Thomas Roy Turner was born March 17, 1934 to Roy and Dorothy Turner in Amarillo, Texas. He married Sue Britten in 2002 in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1952 and pursued general engineering from Texas A&M University. He graduated from TCU in 1956. He began his medical education at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston in 1960, earning a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Turner continued his post-graduate education in surgery from 1960-61 at St. Agnes Hospital, Philadelphia; 1961-63 Texas Dept. of Mental Health Mental Retardation, Austin State Hospital, Neuropsychiatry.
Tom joined the US Navy in 1966, where he began his military career as Regimental Surgeon of the 1st Infantry Training Regiment, US Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In 1967 he was a student at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. From 1967 until 1969 Tom served as the Officer in Charge of Emergency Receiving and Heat Casualty treatment Unit of the US Marine Corps in Parris Island, South Carolina. It was here that Tom was instrumental developing the methods of cooling the body down and the training movies used to assist in the treatment of veterans for heat exhaustion. In 1969 he was a student in the Field Medical Service School in Shock Resuscitation Training at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital in North Carolina From July 1969 to January 1970 He served as Commanding Officer, “A” Shock/Resuscitation Team 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam and as the Chief of Professional Services of Admitting and Sorting/ Triage 1st Medical Btn.; from April 1969 until August 1696 Tom served as Commanding Officer 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam. From September 1969 until August 1973 he was the Assistance Force Surgeon, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Medical Delegate and Southeast Asia treaty Organization in Honolulu and Bangkok, Thailand.
In 1975 until 1977 Tom worked in private practice in Family Medicine in Tulsa, OK. He served as the Clinical Instructor of Family Practice at the University of Oklahoma.
In August 1984 he became staff physician at the Minor Emergency Center in Amarillo; 1985 he was staff physician of Bell Avenue Emergency Center, now Baptist Hospital Urgent Care Center. In 1985 until 1987 Tom served as Medical Director and staff Physician of the Emergency Department of Central Plains Regional Hospital in Plainview, Texas and as the Medical Director of the Plainview Fire Department, EMS. He also served as the Medical Director of the emergency Department of the Lakeland Medical Center and the Medical Director of the Henderson Country EMS in Athens, Texas. In 1988 until June of 1990 he served of the Medical Director in the Emergency Department and the Medical Director of Lifeline EMS at Bethania Regional Health Care Center in Wichita Falls, TX. He also served as Wichita General Hospital Medical Director and Physician Coordinator Paramedic School at Vernon Regional Junior College.
Having been raised in Amarillo, Dr. Turner had the opportunity to know and work with the local medical community. He served on the medical staff of St. Anthony’s Hospital prior to joining the Veterans Health System in 1992 as Chief of Staff of the Mental Health Department and as an Acting Chief of Staff in concert with other service chiefs where diligently served fellow veterans until his death. He has also worked with Texas Tech Health Science Center as a mentor of students and medical residents.
Dr. Turner was a Captain in the US Naval Reserve. He was a member of the Association of Military Physicians and Surgeons, Aerospace Medical Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Hobbies included horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, literature, and painting. However, some of his favorite times were those he spent with his family and attending special activities for his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Sue; three daughters, Shawn Mannie of Austin, Annett Waxler of Amarillo and Shelly Britten of Umbarger; four sons, Tom Turner, Jr. of San Leandro, California; Andy Waxler of Happy, Leo Britten of Canyon, and Cody Britten of Groom; and numerous grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to Will Rogers Junior Range Riders Program, PO Box 19008, Amarillo, TX 79114; or to Kwahadi Heritage, Inc., PO Box 32125, Amarillo, TX 79120-2125; or 7 Star Therapeutic Riding, P.O. Box 50635, Amarillo, TX 79159
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