Francis Patrick "Frank" Hadlock III

FRANCIS PATRICK "FRANK" HADLOCK, III, M.D. October 30, 1943 December 9, 2005 Dr. Francis Patrick (Frank) Hadlock, 62, Houston, Texas, passed away on December 9, 2005. As he said, he was just "played out" from a long fight with cancer. Dr. Hadlock was born in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, on October 30, 1943 to Clotyne Bryant Gray and Francis Patrick Hadlock, Jr. and to his beloved big sister Patricia Anne Hadlock. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Patrick Hadlock of Marshall and Mr. and Mrs. Major Gray of Fordyce, Arkansas. Dr. Hadlock went to public schools in Marshall and attributed much of his later success in life to the education he received, especially Miss Gussie's kindergarten! Dr. Hadlock was always an outstanding student, but his real love was the great outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with Martin Clark and Vernard Solomon on Caddo Lake. He spent much of his youth in organized sports, where he excelled as a point guard in basketball and as a dominating pitcher on the Marshall Little League All-Stars. After a serious knee injury in 1957, he turned to golf and won the District 4-A championship as a sophomore with a score of 71 on a tough course to beat his arch rival and cousin Mike Hadlock, who Dr. Hadlock always thought was actually the better player. Dr. Hadlock had offers to play college golf, and especially cherished a letter of invitation from the legendary golf coach Harvey Penick to try out for UT golf. Dr. Hadlock graduated from Marshall High School with high honors in 1962, and enrolled in the Plan II Honors Program at UT that fall with the intention of going to medical school. This priority ended his collegiate golf career, but led to a life long love for the game he played so well. Dr. Hadlock was enthralled by the academic environment of Plan II where he excelled, graduating with special honors and membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma. Just as important were the opportunities to interact with students from all over the state. He joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity, which he always felt was a turning point in his life, where he developed friendships that have endured the test of time. While at UT Dr. Hadlock became president of Phi Delta Theta, Foreman of the Texas Cowboys, and a member of the Friars Society. He received both the Mike Flynn Award and the Dean Jack Holland Award for his outstanding leadership and scholarship. Dr. Hadlock entered medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in 1966 on a Fisk Foundation Scholarship. After graduating in 1970, he took an internship at Methodist Hospital. The following year he joined the American Doctors Abroad as a volunteer physician and was assigned to Kendu Bay Mission Hospital in Kenya. He enjoyed recounting experiences to his friends of treating everything from malaria to voodoo to lion maulings. The hospital had no lab, no x-ray or even general anesthesia. Because the windows did not have glass, mosquitoes routinely landed in the surgical field. Dr. Hadlock returned to the US in 1973 and began a residency in radiology at Baylor College of Medicine, serving as Chief Resident his final year. Just prior to leaving for Africa in 1972, Dr. Hadlock had a few casual lunch dates with Lana Lowry. When he returned they developed a wonderful romance and friendship that led to a proposal. They were married on July 26, 1974. After completing his residency, he became head of the Radiology Department at the old Jefferson Davis Hospital. There he could teach residents, do his clinical research, and help the indigent. He was introduced to the new ultrasonic imaging technology and spent most of the next twenty years developing its clinical applications for obstetric imaging. He co-authored three books, published over fifty scientific articles, and was promoted to the position of tenured professor and Vice-Chair of Radiology for Baylor College of Medicine. He lectured all over the world on obstetric imaging and enjoyed an international reputation for thorough, honest, invaluable clinical research. Most of his tables, charts and equations are still today's standards in obstetric sonography. Dr. Hadlock was a long time member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. He also was a member of River Oaks Country Club, the Rio San Diego Club, the Cardwell Ranch Hunting Club, and the Tejas Breakfast Club as well as the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Radiologoical Society and the Radiological Society of North America. He was a fellow of the American College of Radiology, the Society of Radiologists and Ultrasound, and the American Institute of Ultrasound and Medicine. He was thankful for his faith in God and for the support of his family, especially his wife, Lana, and his sons, Patrick and Christopher, who gave him the strength to begin each day with hope and excitement. To his many friends, who were generous beyond measure, please know how much he loved and treasured his friendships with you all. Dr. Hadlock is survived by his loving wife of thirty-one years, Lana Lowry Hadlock; son, Francis Patrick Hadlock and his wife Lindsay of Dallas, Texas; and son, Christopher Campbell Hadlock of Houston, Texas. Survivors also include his father, Pendleton Gaines Baldwin and sister Patricia Anne Hadlock Ramsey of Lexington, Kentucky; sister, Elizabeth Gray Baldwin Luhn and her husband Graham of Houston, Texas; and brother, Pendleton Gaines Baldwin, Jr. and his wife Patty of Marietta, Georgia. Dr. Hadlock was preceded in death by his mother, Clotyne Bryant Gray Hadlock Baldwin, and his father, Francis Patrick Hadlock, Jr. Friends are cordially invited to visitation with the family on Sunday, December 11, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston, Texas from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. A memorial service will be held Monday, December 12 at 3:00pm at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, with Dr. James W. Moore officiating. Graveside services will be held at 4:00pm on Tuesday, December 13 at Colonial Gardens in Marshall, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Luke's United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 22013, Houston, Texas 77227-2013, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas, 77210-4486, or the charity of your choice.