Holmes Springs Jr.

SPRINGS, JR., Holmes MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Dr. Holmes Buck Springs Jr, 83 died Tuesday, August 16, 2005 at his home surrounded by his family. Dr. Springs was born on December 25, 1921, in Greenville, S.C. a son of the late Brigadier General Holmes Buck Springs and Louise Wilson Springs. His sister Alice Tootsie Donevant predeceased him. The Springs family moved to Myrtle Beach in 1927. Dr. Springs better known as Booby graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1939, where he played on the school's first football team. He attended the Citadel for two years, then transferred to Duke University and finished in 1943. He completed the Medical College of South Carolina in 1946. Upon graduation, he served his internship at the Protestant Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he met his wife Shirley. They were married in Dublin, Georgia on August 29, 1947, where he served in the U.S. Navy as Lt. JG in the Medical Corp. Dr. Springs was transferred to Brunswick, Georgia Glencoe Naval Air Station. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he served a two-year surgical residency at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. He finished the last two years of his residency at Louisville General Hospital in Kentucky. In 1953, Dr. Springs went into private practice in Marion, South Carolina for the next five years. He moved back to Myrtle Beach when the new Ocean View Memorial Hospital opened on July 4, 1958. He practiced surgery until retirement in 1988. Dr. Springs was Myrtle Beach's first surgeon and was later joined by Dr. Richard Jackson. For the next 15 years they were the only surgeons in Myrtle Beach. Dr. Springs served as Chief of Staff at both the Ocean View Memorial Hospital as well as Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. He served on the first Board of the Ocean View Hospital Foundation, served on the Disciplinary Committee of the S.C. Medical Association, the Board of Visitors at MUSC, and for five years interviewed prospective medical students for MUSC. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. H.B. Springs and Dr. G.P. Joseph started what is now known as S.O.S Healthcare in Myrtle Beach. He partially endowed the Kredel-Springs visiting professorship lectures for training general surgery residents at MUSC. Dr. Springs was active in civic affairs serving 10 years on the Myrtle Beach City Council in 1960's and 70's and served as Mayor Pro-Tem during one of his terms. He was President of the local chapter of Operation Alert during the Cold War. He was also President of the Caribbean Hotel until it was sold. He was a past member of the board of the First United Methodist Church where he was a lifelong member. Dr. Springs was named Sertoma Club Man of the Year and Myrtle Beach Boss of the Year in 1980. There is a horticultural park named in his honor near his home in Myrtle Beach. Dr. Springs was an avid hunter and fisherman and was instrumental in establishing the first chapter of Ducks Unlimited in Myrtle Beach and was chairman for 3 years. He established scholarships at the Citadel in memory of his father and classmate Andre M. Garr and in honor of Leroy W. Harrelson. In 2003, a great tribute was made to Dr. Springs by his Thursday, fishing friends. A S.C. Fishing Reef was dedicated in his honor three miles offshore of Murrells Inlet. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Shirley Wurst Springs, three sons, Holmes Buck Springs III and wife Elizabeth, of Myrtle Beach, John Stokes Springs and wife Ann Reed of Murrells Inlet, Julien Edson Springs and wife Judy of Myrtle Beach, two daughters, Shirley Jean Kratz and husband Dr. John Kratz and Nancy Carol Springs both of Mt. Pleasant, three brothers, David Albert Springs and wife An of Murrells Inlet, Wilson Baker Springs and wife Sandy, and Albert Adams Springs III and wife Carmen both of Myrtle Beach, a sister, Louise Springs Crews and husband Rowan of Myrtle Beach, 10 grandchildren, Holly Whitlock Moore and husband Burton, Jessica Jean Springs, J. Martin Kratz, David Jerrold Kratz, and Michael Holmes Kratz, Lauren Sydnor Springs, Mary Alice Springs, St. Julien Lachicotte Springs II, Caroline Rebecca Springs, and Candice Dreher Springs, 13 nieces and nephews, 27 great nieces and nephews and many good friends. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, August 18, 2005, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Ken Timmerman officiating. Burial will follow in Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5:00 until 7:00 at McMillan-Small Funeral Home. Memorials maybe made to the First United Methodist Church PO Box 1367, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578, Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center, PO Box 296, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578, S.O.S. Healthcare PO Box 7136 Myrtle Beach, SC 29572, or Mercy Hospice of Horry County PO Box 50640 Myrtle Beach, SC 29579. An online guest register is available at www.msfh.net Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.