Paxton Howard

1936 - 2022

Paxton Hope Howard, Jr. M.D., age 86, of Temple, Texas passed away on Saturday, November 26, at his home in Temple. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, October 21, 1936, to Paxton Hope Howard, Sr. and Esther Coe Keener Howard. His family moved to Midland, TX in 1947. He was thereafter a true law abiding Texan. Paxton's father bought a home, and the family moved in. There are many legends of the neighborhood battling baseball games and bloody noses. The house was sold to George H.W. and Barbara Bush. After George W's presidency, the house was designated as the George W. Bush's Childhood Home. The home and surrounding area is currently being considered as a National Park. Paxton graduated Midland High School in 1954. He graduated from the University of Texas Austin (BA) with Highest Honors in 1958. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, The Texas Cowboys and Phi Beta Kappa. Paxton graduated with Highest Honors from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 1962. He was a member of the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He was honored in the Midland High School Hall of Honor, October 1996 and Baylor College of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award, May 1997. He did and Internal Medicine internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX, 1962-63. He served in the U.S. Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA. He was assigned to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, for training in Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, 1962-63. Paxton did his residency at the Mayo Graduate School pf Medicine, Rochester, MN, 1965-67. He did a fellowship in Preventative Medicine - University of Oklahoma Medical School, Oklahoma City, OK, 1967-68. Paxton joined the staff of Scott & White Clinic January 1, 1969. He established the Infectious Diseases section of the Dept. of Internal Medicine, 1969, and was Chief 1969-1981. He established the Medical Historical and Ethics Committee and was Chairman 1976-1983. He was Trustee, Scott & White Memorial Hospital 1979-1994, First Vice President, the President and CEO, January 1995-1996. He was named Lifetime Governor, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation, 1996. Paxton was involved with the establishment of the A&M Medical School and involved subsequently with Microbiology, Internal Medicine, and Medical Humanities departments at the school. He was honored with a named lectureship in Medical Ethics. He served 20 years as Director of Executive Health. Paxton retired in 2001, did part-time doctoring work and retired again in 2009. He loved medicine, history, medical history and golf, and greatly missed his good friends and golfing partners...Bill Hardin, Luther Brewer, Claude Tate, and so many others as life took them away. Paxton married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Harp in June of 1957. This year they celebrated 65 years of Marriage. Their daughter Barbara "B" Howard was born June of 1963. He and Carolyn had many wonderful travels, internationally and domestic including visits to all fifty state capitols. It was a good life, well lived. A memorial service will take place on Monday, December 19, 2022 at 11:00am at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple, Texas. Special thanks to Curtis Mirkes, M.D., the Visiting Angels, Scott & White Hospice and Beck Sparks of Chris Episcopal Church. To share a memory or sign Dr. Howard's guestbook, please visit www.scanioharperfuneralhome.com.