In Memoriam

Hugh B. Lynn, M.D.

Founder of the Lilliputian Surgical Society
August 13, 1914 - November 10, 2015

Hugh B. Lynn, M.D., formerly of Middleburg and The Plains, Virginia, died peacefully in his sleep at his home at Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury in Winchester, Virginia, on November 10, 2015, with his wife, Lillian, at his side. He was 101.
Born in Verona, New Jersey, on August 13, 1914, Dr. Lynn graduated from Blair Academy, Princeton University, (where he played shortstop for the baseball team) and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946 and attained the rank of major.
After completing surgical residencies at the Boston Children's Hospital and the Philadelphia Children's Hospital, he served as Surgeon-in-Chief at the Louisville Children's Hospital, Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.
He was a member of the first generation of surgeons who dedicated their careers to pediatric surgery. He pioneered a number of experimental surgeries for children born with severe birth defects and developed techniques specialized to childhood needs, many of which are still in use today.
In 1959 he convened a small group of pediatric surgeons and their spouses from around the country in Louisville to discuss their cases and share their experiences. George Holcomb, Jr. presented the initial history of the Lilliputian Surgical Society at the annual meeting in 1989 and had this to say about Hugh: “When I first arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital forty years ago this month, Hugh was there in the rotation ahead of me. I greatly appreciated his big brother attitude as he explained the dos and don’ts of the hospital routine. Later, however, I discovered he took all the younger residents under his wing and assisted them in every way he could.
Thirty years ago, this same caring attitude undoubtedly prompted Hugh, when he was Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Louisville Children’s Hospital, to invite the pediatric surgeons in the surrounding cities to attend a program he organized in conjunction with a chapter meeting of the American College of Surgeons. In those days, we did not have a journal devoted to our specialty, and no formal programs or a section within the College of Surgeons. Our only forum was the American Academy of Pediatrics where we had participated in the Surgical Section Meetings for several years. In our individual practices we had encountered very sick children with unusual congenital anomalies for which we often had no solution. Gross’s textbook did not supply all the answers to these unusual problems, and our past training did not provide solutions either. Naturally, we were eager to come to Louisville, and to learn all we could and share our experiences.
We enjoyed a morning program at the Children’s Hospital and following lunch, we discussed some of our interesting cases informally as a “bull session.” Our interests immediately centered on our problems rather than our successes because that was what bothered each of us the most. We each confessed our sins, admitted our failures, and concluded we needed each other to help solve these difficult problems.
That evening we enjoyed dinner at Hugh and Lee Lynn’s home. As we discussed the day’s activities, we agreed that it would be a great idea to organize future meetings with each of us serving as host at our own institution and using a similar format. As we talked about a name it was jokingly suggested“…why not Lilliputians?”
Fortunately, Hugh and Lee were with us to guide The Lilliputian Surgical Society for over five decades. Hugh’s initial advice that there must be good science and that the activities of the Society must appeal to the spouses as well as the surgeons, has provided a framework that has allowed the little society to flourish and continue to attract members of proven abilities and strong character.
An accomplished horseman, Dr. Lynn foxhunted for many years with the Orange County Hunt in Fauquier County, Virginia, and served for a time on the Board of Trustees of that organization. Known for his bow ties and fondness for a good martini, he is remembered for his quick wit and grammatical precision, as well as his love of reading and the company of family and friends. He was a caring physician, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He is greatly missed.
Read Dr. Hugh B. Lynn's obituary here.

Dale Gedge Johnson, M.D.

September 27, 1930 – March 31, 2024

Dale Gedge Johnson, M.D. passed away on March 31st, 2024 surrounded by his family. After 93 years of relentless activity – intellectual and physical – Dale's body finally wore out. He was disappointed his life had to end so soon. There was still much to learn, lessons to teach, and adventures to plan. Dale was a guiding star to many, a position he earned through hard work, dedication, service, and honor and respect for every individual – and every patient – he connected with. His skills and extraordinary care touched untold numbers of children and their families. We will never forget our father's gentle strength and goodness, his unassailable character, and all his accomplishments.
Dale, the eldest son of Morris and Leah Johnson, was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. At age six he played the violin and, although he relinquished that pursuit for others, Dale's perfect pitch and passion for classical, choral, and operatic music were mainstays throughout his life.
Dale's experiences while serving an LDS mission to South Africa enlarged his world; it may have been there that he fully internalized the values of service and compassion that he practiced for 70+ more years, and his missionary companions were among his closest, lifelong friends.
Upon returning to Utah to complete undergraduate studies at the University of Utah, he met his lasting love, Beverly Clark. They were married shortly after in the Salt Lake Temple. Music was their glue; decades later they enjoyed singing together in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Dale completed medical school at the U, relocated to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with his young family for surgical residency and, following military service research, accepted a position at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. In the first in a long series of academic appointments, Dale also served as Professor of Surgery and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania. While there, C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, and Dale were responsible for establishing pediatric surgery as a new area of surgical specialization that would transform medical treatment for newborns and young children.
A turn of events led Dale to move his family back to Salt Lake City. He served as Surgeon-in-Chief at Primary Children's Medical Center and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery from 1971-2001, alongside appointments as Professor of Surgery and Professor of Pediatrics with the University of Utah School of Medicine. We saw too little of him as he began his practice alone, building Primary's Department of Pediatric Surgery to create the nationally recognized entity it is today. He treated infants and children from five continents, educated, trained, and mentored countless young surgeons, and shared his expertise abroad. In a show of appreciation to Dale's years of medical service to the children and surgeons of Poland, he was invited to sing with the Polish National Choir (and memorized the songs in Polish), including a trip to the Vatican to perform for Pope John Paul II, the first Polish Pope. We're not sure how our dad juggled all of his endeavors, but his optimistic disposition prevailed under often grueling circumstances, and his ability to run on fumes helped. At the most basic level, medicine was a calling for Dale; his colleagues recall him operating in a ski boot for a time so that a foot injury didn't preclude his being there for patients.
In recognition of his innovations and years of service in medicine, Dale was honored with numerous awards for distinguished service, teaching, and mentoring. His commitment to the medical profession included leadership positions in more than 25 national and international medical organizations, including Past President of the American Pediatric Surgical Association; Past President of the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons; the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Surgical Association; and the Lilliputian Surgical Society.
In addition to carving turns in knee-deep powder at Utah's ski resorts or helicopter skiing in Canada, Dale relished biking, rollerblading, and beekeeping; he read prodigiously, built part of his own tennis court, maintained a garden, and adored computers. He enjoyed giving generously to people in need, as well as to his own family members.
Dale is survived by his wife of 72 years, Beverly Clark Johnson; his brother Gordon (VeeDrienne) Johnson; his children, Pam (Robert) Fillmore, Paul (Martha) Johnson, Charlotte (Shawn) Ferrin, and Peter (Mel) Johnson; 13 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Morris and Leah Johnson, and siblings Gaylen (Alaire) Johnson and Elaine (Hal) Sharp.

Thomas Martin Holder, M.D.

September 1, 1926 – November 6, 2023

Thomas Martin Holder, M.D., pediatric surgeon, teacher, academic researcher and author, died in Aiken, SC, on November 6, 2023, at age 97, after a productive and satisfying life. He was a man of integrity and tenacity, loyal to his family and committed to professional excellence. He performed general and heart surgery for thousands of infants and children in Kansas City over a period of decades.
Tom was born September 1, 1926, in Corinth, Mississippi, to S.S. Holder and Ethel Martin Holder. He enlisted in the US Navy at age 17 in World War II, and served as an electrician’s mate on a ship maintaining the anti-submarine nets in San Francisco Bay. He attended Ole Miss and graduated from Wake Forest Medical School, in North Carolina. That is where he met Kathryn Robinson, a vivacious and insightful teacher, whom he subsequently married. Tom did seven years of specialty residencies in general surgery, thoracic surgery, and pediatric surgery in Philadelphia with Dr. John Gibbon and in Boston with Dr. Robert Gross, titans of thoracic and pediatric surgery. Dr. Holder was the chief surgical resident at the Boston Children’s Hospital, and a teaching fellow at Harvard University.
Dr. Holder moved to Kansas City in 1960 as the first Surgeon in Chief at Children’s Mercy Hospital and dedicated his career to patient care and developing a top-notch, accredited residency training program in pediatric surgery, teaching medical students and residents, authoring 133 scholarly articles and book chapters and several books, including “Pediatric Surgery,” by Thomas M. Holder and Keith W. Ashcraft. He was a leader in professional service, winning the 1997 Ladd Medal from the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics, winning the medical students’ Jayhawker Teaching Award for the professor “who has shown the greatest devotion to his primary duty as a teacher,” serving as president of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and winning its Distinguished Service Award, chairing the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and notable others. When Children’s Mercy Hospital withdrew its affiliation from the University of Kansas in order to become part of the formation of UMKC, he changed his academic affiliation to the University of Kansas. After ten years at KU, he established a private practice and returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital as Chief of the Section of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He loved being a pediatric surgeon, channeling his drive and skill to help heal young people who could go on to enjoy rewarding decades of life.
In his retirement years, Tom repurposed his remarkable small-motor skills from surgery to designing and building fine cherry furniture, fly-tying and fly fishing in nature’s beautiful remote waters, hiking from his cabin in Colorado, and continued duck-hunting, wind-surfing, and serving Children’s Mercy Hospital. In recent years, he suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, yet he recognized and appreciated his family members and friends, who provided unwavering and enduring support, and he tapped simple rhythms on his drum board even in his final days. He lived his motto fully: “Tenacity is the common denominator for success.”
Dr. Holder is survived by his wife, Kathryn R. Holder, their three children, Celeste Holder Kling (Robert), Thomas Martin Holder, Jr. (Becky), and Kathryn Holder Viele (Steve), three grandchildren, Kali Holder (Kaden Borseth), Matthew Kling (Zoe Sheldon), Alexis Hoffkling (isele Harper), and two great-grandchildren, Wylie Holder Jewett and Sylvie Huntington Jewett.

George Whitfield Holcomb, Jr, M.D.

June 19, 1922 – June 29, 2019

George Whitfield Holcomb, Jr., MD, age 97, died on June 29, 2019 in Nashville, Tn. The son of the late Dr. George W. and Ruth Holcomb was born in Nashville on June 19, 1922. He graduated from Duncan Preparatory School in 1939 and afterwards from Vanderbilt University, and then Vanderbilt University Medical Scholl in 1946. He completed his adult surgical training at Vanderbilt Medical Center and then special training in pediatric surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital (a Harvard hospital), which he completed in 1952. Following this training in Boston, he was commissioned Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Most of his military assignment was during the Korean War as Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Assistant Chief of General Surgery at the Osaka Army Hospital, the second largest hospital in Japan, and for a short time in Korea. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1954 for his services in the Army and received the following commendation:
Captain Holcomb- “Your assignment involved assisting and advising the Chief of Surgical Services during normal procedures, and assuming his responsibilities and duties during his absence. The latter occasion arose at one of the peak periods of the Korean patient overload, and you proved yourself to be more than adequately capable of effectively and proficiently meeting this challenge. The situation entailed considerable and steadfast hours of both mental and physical strain, and obliged you to overcome many and inevitable obstacles. Your unselfish efforts, well evaluated and firm decisions, and application of professional skill led to achieving a coordinated and efficient operation of the service elements.”
–James H. Turner, Colonel MC, Commanding - 13 January 1954
Dr. Holcomb returned to Nashville later in 1954, and practiced adult and pediatric general and thoracic surgery for 10 years, participating for several years in partnership with Drs. James A. Kirtley, Jr and Douglas H. Riddell. For several years, Dr. Holcomb served as Chief of Surgery at St. Thomas Hospital as well as President of the Baptist Hospital Medical Staff. Realizing the need for a dedicated pediatric surgeon in Tennessee, in 1964 he decided to limit his practice to abdominal and thoracic surgery in infants and children. He became the first pediatric surgeon in Middle Tennessee and practiced pediatric surgery exclusively for 25 years before retiring in 1989. During this time, Dr. Holcomb was also Clinical Professor of Pediatric Surgery at Vanderbilt. He greatly enjoyed the opportunity to care for the children of this region who needed his services.
In 1960, Dr. Holcomb and three pediatric colleagues realized the children in this region needed better health care facilities, and urged the Vanderbilt leadership to build a children’s hospital. Due to insufficient funding, this idea was rejected. Over the next few years, this group obtained support for this project from the Junior League of Nashville, the Council of Jewish Women, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, other area general hospitals, along with additional organizations, to build a children’s hospital in Nashville for the children of Middle Tennessee. To be successful, this group of pediatric providers realized this children’s hospital needed to be adjacent to and affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt. Unfortunately, this idea was again rejected, but this idea of building a children’s hospital was finally achieved in 2004.
The annual George W. Holcomb Lectureship in Pediatric Surgery at Vanderbilt was established in 1990 by his longtime friends, Eleanor and Clark Akers. To date, 29 pediatric surgeons in this country have been asked to participate as the Holcomb Lecturer. At the time of his retirement in 1989, he was appointed Clinical Professor of Pediatric Surgery, Emeritus. In 1993, he was asked to come out of retirement and serve as the Executive Director of Medical Alumni Affairs at Vanderbilt Medical Center, a position he held until 2003.
During his career, Dr. Holcomb also participated in several civic and medical associations, serving as President of the following organizations: the Nashville Academy of Medicine, the Tennessee Medical Association, the Nashville Surgical Society, and the Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Association. In addition, he served on the administrative board of West End Methodist Church on several occasions. He also was a charter member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and was elected to the Board of Governors by the membership in 1975. He was also a member of the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the Southern Surgical Association, and the Rotary Club of Nashville. He was a past member of the Board of Trustees of Harpeth Hall School, the Board of the United Way, the Advisory Board of the Junior League of Nashville, and was a member of Belle Meade Country Club. For 25 years, he served as an Editorial Consultant for the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. He contributed numerous articles for national and international publications.
Dr. Holcomb was preceded in death in 2003 by his loving wife of 53 years, Alice Ingram Holcomb, and recently by his sister, Ruth H. Herren of Birmingham, Alabama. He is survived by one son, Dr. George W. Holcomb, III and his wife Karen D. Holcomb of Prairie Village, Kansas, a daughter, Virginia B. Holcomb of Charleston, South Carolina, and three grandchildren: Jennifer L. Holcomb, Washington D.C., George W. Holcomb, IV, Geneva, Illinois, and James E. Holcomb, Chicago, Illinois.
Private burial services will be conducted by Reverend Carol Cavin-Dillon at Mount Olivet Cemetery. A Memorial Service is scheduled at West End Methodist Church on Monday, July 8 at 3 pm followed by visitation with his family from 3:30-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration for contributions to the Vanderbilt Medical Scholarship Fund, West End Methodist Church, or to the charities of the donor’s choice.