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.
