Dr. Abner Melvin Glover Jr.

GLOVER, DR. ABNER MELVIN, JR. - 80, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on February 19, 2009. Dr. Glover was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church where he served for many years as a Deacon and Elder. He graduated from Central High School where he was president of his class for four years, captain of the football team, a member of the Honor Society, and became an Eagle Scout Order of the Arrow. He served as an assistant scout master for four years and on the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He worked at the Pellissippi Scout Camp and was the activities director of the Smoky Mountain Music Camp. Dr. Glover enjoyed nature and hiked a good portion of the Appalachian Trail and Mount LeConte many times. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis in 1951. He did his internship in Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston in 1952 under Dr. Michael DeBakey at Baylor University. He entered the service as a 1st Lieutenant in the Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and served for two years in the Korean conflict. He completed his surgical residency at Tulane University Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was chief resident in 1958. He was a member of the Ochsner Surgical Society. Dr. Glover was a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville; he was a member of the Fellow American College of Surgeons and President of the Knoxville Surgical Society. He also helped create, manage, and contribute to "The Visiting Doctor", a short, local, weekly TV series shown at the 6 o'clock news on WATE for 2 years. This program was an early and successful prototype education program to the public about health matters. For several years he led a small group of fellow physicians, "the 20 Committee" in many informal meetings at his home. Their mission was to help educated and guide the local medical community, and ultimately, the general public about health matters, medical malpractice issues, and healthcare delivery systems such as "HMO", "PPO" and "IPA" Dr. Glover was instrumental in the process of reforming medical malpractice law in Tennessee at a critical time when many physicians were leaving the state. This effort was highlighted by an historical weekday in the Knoxville area medical community when all medical offices were voluntarily closed. On that day, physicians gathered at the Academy of Medicine for medical, political, and insurance seminars with state and national experts. These efforts ultimately contributed to medical malpractice legislation in Nashville. He was a member of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine. He cared deeply about his patients, the medical profession, and how patients were treated by politicians, hospital systems, and insurance companies. Dr. Glover was a member of Leadership Knoxville- Class of 1987. He founded and ran the Fort Sanders Breast Center for two years in 1986 at the Thompson Cancer Center. He was co-founder of the State Medical Insurance Company and initiated the State Medical Liability Review Board. He practiced medicine solo for thirty years until his son, Dr. Michael Glover, joined him the last ten years. His family called him a Renaissance man because of his many talents and interests. He loved hunting with a bow and arrow, painting with watercolors and oils, creating beautiful furniture and teaching this craft to others, photography, traveling, and sailing. He enjoyed tennis and was one of the five men who started the Knoxville Racquet Club. He developed 27 acres in the heart of Sequoyah Hills with his good friend, Bob Schriver, where he built his home and lived for over forty years. Dr. Glover was a man of strong faith and a devoted Christian who loved his family deeply. With all of his accomplishments listed, the family treasured his love for them the most. Memories were created by the family vacations at DeBordieu Island for over 30 years. We will miss hearing his voice, but his voice will continue to resonate throughout all of our lives for generations. Dr. Glover was preceded in death by his parents, Neva and Melvin Glover. He is survived by his loving wife, Jenny Lynn, of 56 years, and his children; Dr. Michael Glover and wife, Cammy Glover, Jenny and husband, Paul Cleckner of Brentwood, TN, Dr. Ann Glover and husband, Zach Carney of Johns Island, SC; and grandchildren; Michael, Miles and Michelle Glover; Jessica, Paul and Chase Cleckner; sister, Willie Ruth Moak of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and brother in-law Jim Ellis and Louise Ellis.