Dr. Tom Turner

Dr. Tom Turner AMARILLO - Memorial services for Dr. Thomas "Tom" Turner, 77, of Amarillo will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at the Kwahadi Museum, 9151 I-40 East. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. Dr. Turner died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. Thomas Roy Turner was born March 17, 1934, to Roy and Dorothy Turner in Amarillo, Texas. He married Sue Britten in 2002 in Ruidoso, N.M. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1952 and pursued general engineering from Texas A&M University. He graduated from TCU in 1956. He began his medical education at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in 1960, earning a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Turner continued his post-graduate education in surgery from 1960-61 at St. Agnes Hospital, Philadelphia; and from 1961-63 at the Texas Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation, Austin State Hospital in neuropsychiatry. Tom joined the U.S. Navy in 1966 where he began his military career as regimental surgeon of the 1st Infantry Training Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 1967, he was a student at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Fla. From 1967-69 Tom served as the officer in charge of Emergency Receiving and Heat Casualty Treatment Unit of the U.S. Marine Corps in Parris Island, S.C. It was here that Tom was instrumental in developing the methods of cooling the body down and the training movies used to assist in the treatment of veterans for heat exhaustion. In 1969 he was a student in the Field Medical Service School in Shock Resuscitation Training at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital in North Carolina. From July 1969 to January 1970 he served as commanding officer, "A" Shock/Resuscitation Team 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam and as the chief of professional services of admitting and sorting/triage, 1st Medical Btn. From April 1969 until August 1969, Tom served as commanding officer, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam. From September 1969 until August 1973, he was the assistance force surgeon, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Medical Delegate and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization in Honolulu and Bangkok, Thailand. In 1975-77, Tom worked in private practice in family medicine in Tulsa, Okla. He served as the clinical instructor of family practice at the University of Oklahoma. In August 1984 he became staff physician at the Minor Emergency Center in Amarillo; then in 1985 he was staff physician of Bell Avenue Emergency Center, now Baptist Hospital Urgent Care Center. In 1985-87 Tom served as medical director and staff physician of the Emergency Department of Central Plains Regional Hospital in Plainview, Texas, and as the medical director of the Plainview Fire Department/EMS. He also served as the medical director of the Emergency Department of Lakeland Medical Center and medical director of the Henderson Country EMS in Athens, Texas. In 1988 until June 1990 he served as medical director in the Emergency Department and medical director of Lifeline EMS at Bethania Regional Health Care Center in Wichita Falls. He also served as Wichita General Hospital medical director and physician coordinator of the Paramedic School at Vernon Regional Junior College. Having been raised in Amarillo, Dr. Turner had the opportunity to know and work with the local medical community. He served on the medical staff at St. Anthony's Hospital prior to joining the Veterans Health System in 1992 as chief of staff of the Mental Health Department and as an acting chief of staff in concert with other service chiefs where he diligently served fellow veterans until his death. He also worked with Texas Tech Health Science Center as a mentor of students and medical residents. Dr. Turner was a captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was a member of the Association of Military Physicians and Surgeons, Aerospace Medical Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians. Hobbies included horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, literature and painting. However, some of his favorite times were those he spent with his family and attending special activities for his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Sue; three daughters, Shawn Mannie of Austin, Annett Waxler of Amarillo and Shelly Britten of Umbarger; four sons, Tom Turner Jr. of San Leandro, Calif., Andy Waxler of Happy, Leo Britten of Canyon and Cody Britten of Groom; and numerous grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to Will Rogers Junior Range Riders Program, PO Box 19008, Amarillo, TX 79114; or to Kwahadi Heritage, Inc., P.O. Box 32125, Amarillo, TX 79120-2125; or 7 Star Therapeutic Riding, P.O. Box 50635, Amarillo, TX 79159 Please sign our online guestbook at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com