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Nat Taylor Winston Jr.
1927 - 2013
Nat Taylor Winston Jr.
1927 - 2013
Obituary
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Nat Winston Obituary
He attended Science Hill High School serving as class president and graduating valedictorian before deploying to the Pacific Theater of WW2, where he commanded as an infantry officer. After serving the United States, he attended Vanderbilt University graduating Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt Medical School in 1953. He quickly gained success in the psychiatric field as the first Director of the Johnson City Mental Health Clinic and was later appointed the first Superintendent of Moccasin Bend Psychiatric Hospital, where his work gained national recognition placing Tennessee on the forefront of mental healthcare. Credited by Readers Digest to "spawning the birth of a quiet psychiatric revolution", he was appointed Commissioner of Mental Health for Tennessee by Gov. Frank Clemet and again under Gov. Buford Ellington. After a Republican bid for the 1974 gubernatorial seat, Dr. Nat entered the private sector founding American Psychiatric Hospitals, which later merged with Hospital Affiliates before being acquired by HCA. Dr. Nat continued in private healthcare by building and opening hospitals for sexually abused adolescents and serving as Medical Director for several companies and hospitals. In 2005, he was awarded the 'Beyond the Call' award for exceptional professional dedication to the Psychiatric Field and in 2006, he was presented the Dorothea Dix award for his outstanding contribution to Psychiatry.
Dr. Nat also gained national recognition as an entertainer and a banjo player earning a gold record for selling over one million copies of his successful 'How to Play' instructional record series. He was a sought after speaker across the country and was an avid traveler to the corners of the world. Dr. Nat had a true love of the Appalachian culture and is considered an expert and ambassador to the history, music, and people of Appalachia.
He is survived by his wife Martha Casey Winston, sister Amy Winston Holt (Fred) of Florence AL, daughter Sarah Winston Cooper (Gary) of Rye England, sons Nat T. Winston III, John H. Winston V (Kristen) and step son Robert M. Schneider (Lee Ann)
The family requests any memorial gifts be made to the Dept. of Appalachian Music Studies East Tennessee State University: PO Box 70721 Johnson City, TN 37614. Graveside service will be held at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Christopher Berry 615-635-4620
November 10, 2021
I owe my life to this man...Ill never forget the day I met him in Jackson TN Your loved one is a heck of a man so glad I met and knew him well years ago!!!
Vanessa Davidson
March 12, 2018
We Love You Tennessee Nat Winston. I did not know Nat, but my PawPaw did. My favorite book of all time is Hit Haint the Fish. Thank you Nat for years of overwhelming joy and laughter every time I think of pits and pieces in that book. I read this book over 40 years ago. To this date I just love it and it is my favorite.
Dr. Van Johnson
March 25, 2014
Dr. Nat Winston, recruited me as a medical director for one of the hospitals he started in the 1980's. We remained friends. I will surely miss him.
cindy tucker
February 12, 2014
Dr nat you will be dearly missed i enjoyed listening to your stories and your picking and i fill honored to have known you and mrs martha two great people and who i was first old enough to vote for you such a blessing love you both mrs martha if you need anything please call i miss my dad care and be blessed and know dr nate is in gods hands now
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Dan Page
February 6, 2014
Nat and I traveled together in the late 1970's. He taught me much about developing psychiatric programs. He opened the first "open door psychiatric hospital" in the country in Chattanooga TN. He will always be remembered! Dan Page
Eileen Steinhice
January 16, 2014
When Nat became Commissioner of Mental Health, my grandmother (Marion Peck) was his Press Secretary. They were already good friends. They learned that their birthdays were two days apart, and Earl Scruggs' was four days after that. Great excuse for a party! I picture him now in that Great Cabin In The Sky, with Marion and Earl, and Doc Watson, and Johnny Cash, and many more loved ones, having one heck of a hootenanny!
Joe Baker
January 14, 2014
My father, Dr. Joseph J Baker preceded Dr. Winston as the Commissioner of Mental Health and always thought well of him as a trusted colleague. Funny but I saw Dr.Winston's name this week in a Johny Cash biography and just wondered, searched the internet just now. I still have my how-to banjo record and can still pick a very things for fun with the Scruggs finger roll. God Bless
Emily Winston Watters
January 11, 2014
You did so much in your lifetime. So much more than most people accomplish. You worked so hard to achieve everything. So many people's lives are changed because of your help and guidance. Your work in your field helped other psychiatrists and psychologists treat their patients more successfully. I turned out more like you in my interests in medicine and my drive to be the top student in college or the best employee in the clinic I work in. I am taking classes through Yale and Princeton and your Alma Mater, Vanderbilt. I wish I could have told you about it. You did have a full life. I wished we had gotten a chance to have talked about Italy and our trips there. Bless you Martha and John, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Bless you Grandfather,and flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.
Maryesther Jackson
January 7, 2014
He was truly an amazing man! What a life!
Mary Cowan
January 5, 2014
I love you Nat, you meant the world to me. Can't believe I'm in Florence,Italy, birthplace of your beloved Operas, as you flew over! This will leave a huge hole in my soul, my friend. I will be there for sweet Martha. Fly with the angels, dear friend. You will never be forgotten...you've got plenty of folks to entertain on the other side!
January 3, 2014
Such a dear friend. Words are not adequate. Just learned of his death and am greatly saddened. But he told me many times,"Vonda I have had an amazing life. " .He did so much good in this world and helped so many. Just words are inadequate to express the love we all felt for the great man and to convey the loss so many of us feel. I feel so blessed to have known him and worked closely with him. He was like the grand father I never had. I love you Nat T . I will miss you greatly , and though since you moved back to Nashville and retired we didn't talk a lot, I always knew you were there. Blessings and prayers to your family. You will be greatly missed.
Kaye Coffey Shoemake
January 3, 2014
Martha: Nat has been a friend to our family from the time I was very small. Our family always looked forward to his visits to his cabin when we were growing up. Especially our Dad & Grandpa, (Old Man Sam) as Nat called him. Nat was always good to our family, and we will forever have wonderful memories of our dear friend. May God Bless you, and all the family in your time of grief.
Dale Barnes
January 3, 2014
I regret that I never met Dr. Winston. As a child I was interested in both medicine and politics. Naturally Dr. Winston came to my attention. It impressed me that two Democratic Governors had a Republican Commissioner of Mental Health. Later on I knew of Dr. Winston as a performer and teacher of banjo music. It is inadequate of me to say that he was an accomplished man. I am proud that he was a Tennessean, a veteran, and that he helped so many people and his field of medicine. The great State of Tennessee and your family were so fortunate to have Dr. Nat T. Winston, Jr. I express to you my deepest sympathy and I hope that your memories will comfort you in the days to come.
Lynda Miller
January 3, 2014
What a fantastic gentleman. I had the opportunity to work with him once, be around him to "discuss" politics a few times and just share space with this great man. He and Martha had a few of us to lunch one day and I got instructions on how to prepare the perfect green beans, walk around the home and see the many photos of many of the people in his life (amazing!) and listen to stories that will remain with me for rest of my life. I never pass the street they lived on without throwing up my hand and saying "Hello Martha a Nat". THAT's the impression these two wonderful people left me. RIP Nat! You couldn't possibly know how many lives you've touched.
January 3, 2014
Martha, Gunter and I are thinking of you. What a sad day! Wonderful story of his life. Linda Walter
Patricia Vance
January 3, 2014
Doc Winston saved my life more than once and helped save my marriage to Tom Vance as I am sure he did for many others..Tom had known him for years and I met him when I worked with him when he was Commissioner of Mental Health. The world of mental health has lost a good friend and a beautiful person. He joins old friends and I can picture him ."picking and singing" with the best of them. Heaven is a happier place even though our hearts are sore and sad. RIP Doc.My heart goes out to all his family.
S Carson
January 3, 2014
I'll miss you Big Nat. Thank you for getting me started on the banjo and guitar and for all you did for me and my family.
Paul Clark
January 2, 2014
The mountains will not be the same, and the cabin looks much emptier. Our love and prayers are with you and your family.
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201 25th Ave North, Nashville, TN 37203
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