Date:4/2/2008 Remembering a Giant in Medicine: Dr. Gordon McGee

EL PASO, April 10 - William Gordon McGee, M.D. died this week at the age of 74 in his new home in Dallas.

The shadow he cast in life and the sadness his death brings is long and broad. This man had many friends in and out of the medical field.

He lived in El Paso the better part of his life and we in El Paso, the U.S.-Mexico border region, Texas, and the United States are and remain forever in his debt. His sheer brain power, his boundless passion for life, his humor, his directness, his love for family and friends are what the people, family, physicians, friends, staff, will speak of for years to come.

Not many of us will be remembered for 100 years or more. But Dr. William Gordon McGee will. The fact is he was so much more than a man of the mountains and plains, a West Texan, who walked and talked that way. His gait was pure West Texas Border: standing tall, direct, open and friendly with a laser-like wit that could cut both ways and often did.

Here was a man who enjoyed and embraced his faith, loved and was beloved by his wife, Jean, and children and cared for medicine and doctors, his peers, as few do. He knew powerful people and made many powerful things happen in El Paso, Austin and even in Washington, D.C. Not only was he a former president of the largest medical association in the country, the Texas Medical Association, in 1990-1991, but his love of medicine kept him involved literally to the day of his death.

He joined us in creating what became the Border Health Caucus. When he closed his clinic, working 10 to 15 hours a day as a pathologist, up 'till eight months ago, he was on the phone constantly, monitoring, mentoring, making things happen for the better due to his commitment to community: faith, family, friends and physicians and so much more, including the people of El Paso.

Persuader? He secured a sizeable raise for a young lobbyist after the young man worked on a project that so impressed him that he reached out immediately to the leaders of the TMA telling them what a great job had been done in West Texas. Whether it was staff in El Paso, Austin or Washington, D.C., there was never any doubt of what Dr. Gordon McGee thought or believed. His counsel was a touchstone for leaders in TMA for the past four decades...staff and physician alike.

Energetic? You have to be kidding. Too many stories to tell that depict this indefatigable spirit who mobilized ideas and people. We can remember when the ice storm hit Austin in February of 2003. He had made a commitment to go there and work with legislators on behalf of what ultimately became Proposition 12, medical liability reform.

The Capitol was virtually closed down, Austin was at a "crawl"...but not McGee. He told the medical liability crisis "story" all over that building. And then walked fearlessly down the slope of the Capitol to the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (about five blocks away) while others slid and fell, cars had fender benders and those of more modest physical skills pleaded with him to "slow up." Slow up? When his mind was made up, he went full speed ahead.

But he only moved at break-neck speed after listening, thinking, and reasoning with others. Dr. McGee was a great listener. And he would not countenance meandering of thought until he got his brilliant mind around an issue. Modest in style. Modest in accepting accolades. He kept it humble. He was a wise man at a young age. He embraced the concept of diversity, appreciated all the multi-cultures that he encountered. Loved good people. Fought with those who he believed had personal agendas rather than community or medicine first. His wisdom was sought by many and shared with even more as people would say loudly or in whispers: "Dr McGee said...or Gordon suggested...." His name had that kind of power.

As physicians, we saw him deliver a stirring, passionate, nomination for one of his Border Health Caucus colleagues for the Board of Trustees for the Texas Medical Association just under three years ago. That speech was credited in part to the person's election to that board which oversees how organized medicine articulates its collective voice for more than 50,000 doctors at the Texas Capitol and in the halls of Congress.

How about the way he served his beloved El Paso? Boards, commissions, community projects, the medical school...his footprints and even more importantly his fingerprints are all over his community. He knew the challenges of living in El Paso, especially as it pertained to access to health care for the people of the Border and the rest of Texas.

That is but one reason why he was so effective in helping Texans. Through his "fun-loving personality," his healthy skepticism and penetrating questions, thoughtful listening, he was more than leader. He was a giant in his community and he was a giant in medicine.

The last week of his life, he spent visiting with his friends and family. He shared with several that his life was nearing the "lick-log" stage. He was not well in his last years but it did not show other than his need for oxygen. Still he did not slow down. Miss him? How? He is all around us in the deeds that he has done, the programs he has started and family and the friends who will carry his commitment to community and medicine forward. Guardian Angel? El Paso has another great one.

The Border, Texas, we know he will be watching and guiding and we will be listening and his wise counsel filters through those he loved and cared about. Thank you, dear friend!

Manuel Acosta, M.D., is chair of the Border Health Caucus.



Date:4/12/2008 Remembering a Giant in Medicine: Dr. Gordon McGee

EL PASO, April 10 - William Gordon McGee, M.D. died this week at the age of 74 in his new home in Dallas.

The shadow he cast in life and the sadness his death brings is long and broad. This man had many friends in and out of the medical field.

He lived in El Paso the better part of his life and we in El Paso, the U.S.-Mexico border region, Texas, and the United States are and remain forever in his debt. His sheer brain power, his boundless passion for life, his humor, his directness, his love for family and friends are what the people, family, physicians, friends, staff, will speak of for years to come.

Not many of us will be remembered for 100 years or more. But Dr. William Gordon McGee will. The fact is he was so much more than a man of the mountains and plains, a West Texan, who walked and talked that way. His gait was pure West Texas Border: standing tall, direct, open and friendly with a laser-like wit that could cut both ways and often did.

Here was a man who enjoyed and embraced his faith, loved and was beloved by his wife, Jean, and children and cared for medicine and doctors, his peers, as few do. He knew powerful people and made many powerful things happen in El Paso, Austin and even in Washington, D.C. Not only was he a former president of the largest medical association in the country, the Texas Medical Association, in 1990-1991, but his love of medicine kept him involved literally to the day of his death.

He joined us in creating what became the Border Health Caucus. When he closed his clinic, working 10 to 15 hours a day as a pathologist, up 'till eight months ago, he was on the phone constantly, monitoring, mentoring, making things happen for the better due to his commitment to community: faith, family, friends and physicians and so much more, including the people of El Paso.

Persuader? He secured a sizeable raise for a young lobbyist after the young man worked on a project that so impressed him that he reached out immediately to the leaders of the TMA telling them what a great job had been done in West Texas. Whether it was staff in El Paso, Austin or Washington, D.C., there was never any doubt of what Dr. Gordon McGee thought or believed. His counsel was a touchstone for leaders in TMA for the past four decades...staff and physician alike.

Energetic? You have to be kidding. Too many stories to tell that depict this indefatigable spirit who mobilized ideas and people. We can remember when the ice storm hit Austin in February of 2003. He had made a commitment to go there and work with legislators on behalf of what ultimately became Proposition 12, medical liability reform.

The Capitol was virtually closed down, Austin was at a "crawl"...but not McGee. He told the medical liability crisis "story" all over that building. And then walked fearlessly down the slope of the Capitol to the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (about five blocks away) while others slid and fell, cars had fender benders and those of more modest physical skills pleaded with him to "slow up." Slow up? When his mind was made up, he went full speed ahead.

But he only moved at break-neck speed after listening, thinking, and reasoning with others. Dr. McGee was a great listener. And he would not countenance meandering of thought until he got his brilliant mind around an issue. Modest in style. Modest in accepting accolades. He kept it humble. He was a wise man at a young age. He embraced the concept of diversity, appreciated all the multi-cultures that he encountered. Loved good people. Fought with those who he believed had personal agendas rather than community or medicine first. His wisdom was sought by many and shared with even more as people would say loudly or in whispers: "Dr McGee said...or Gordon suggested...." His name had that kind of power.

As physicians, we saw him deliver a stirring, passionate, nomination for one of his Border Health Caucus colleagues for the Board of Trustees for the Texas Medical Association just under three years ago. That speech was credited in part to the person's election to that board which oversees how organized medicine articulates its collective voice for more than 50,000 doctors at the Texas Capitol and in the halls of Congress.

How about the way he served his beloved El Paso? Boards, commissions, community projects, the medical school...his footprints and even more importantly his fingerprints are all over his community. He knew the challenges of living in El Paso, especially as it pertained to access to health care for the people of the Border and the rest of Texas.

That is but one reason why he was so effective in helping Texans. Through his "fun-loving personality," his healthy skepticism and penetrating questions, thoughtful listening, he was more than leader. He was a giant in his community and he was a giant in medicine.

The last week of his life, he spent visiting with his friends and family. He shared with several that his life was nearing the "lick-log" stage. He was not well in his last years but it did not show other than his need for oxygen. Still he did not slow down. Miss him? How? He is all around us in the deeds that he has done, the programs he has started and family and the friends who will carry his commitment to community and medicine forward. Guardian Angel? El Paso has another great one.

The Border, Texas, we know he will be watching and guiding and we will be listening and his wise counsel filters through those he loved and cared about. Thank you, dear friend!

Manuel Acosta, M.D., is chair of the Border Health Caucus. Manuel Alvarez, M.D., is immediate past chair of the Border Health Caucus.
Date:4/20/2008 Remembering a Giant in Medicine: Dr. Gordon McGee

EL PASO, April 10 - William Gordon McGee, M.D. died this week at the age of 74 in his new home in Dallas.

The shadow he cast in life and the sadness his death brings is long and broad. This man had many friends in and out of the medical field.

He lived in El Paso the better part of his life and we in El Paso, the U.S.-Mexico border region, Texas, and the United States are and remain forever in his debt. His sheer brain power, his boundless passion for life, his humor, his directness, his love for family and friends are what the people, family, physicians, friends, staff, will speak of for years to come.

Not many of us will be remembered for 100 years or more. But Dr. William Gordon McGee will. The fact is he was so much more than a man of the mountains and plains, a West Texan, who walked and talked that way. His gait was pure West Texas Border: standing tall, direct, open and friendly with a laser-like wit that could cut both ways and often did.

Here was a man who enjoyed and embraced his faith, loved and was beloved by his wife, Jean, and children and cared for medicine and doctors, his peers, as few do. He knew powerful people and made many powerful things happen in El Paso, Austin and even in Washington, D.C. Not only was he a former president of the largest medical association in the country, the Texas Medical Association, in 1990-1991, but his love of medicine kept him involved literally to the day of his death.

He joined us in creating what became the Border Health Caucus. When he closed his clinic, working 10 to 15 hours a day as a pathologist, up 'till eight months ago, he was on the phone constantly, monitoring, mentoring, making things happen for the better due to his commitment to community: faith, family, friends and physicians and so much more, including the people of El Paso.

Persuader? He secured a sizeable raise for a young lobbyist after the young man worked on a project that so impressed him that he reached out immediately to the leaders of the TMA telling them what a great job had been done in West Texas. Whether it was staff in El Paso, Austin or Washington, D.C., there was never any doubt of what Dr. Gordon McGee thought or believed. His counsel was a touchstone for leaders in TMA for the past four decades...staff and physician alike.

Energetic? You have to be kidding. Too many stories to tell that depict this indefatigable spirit who mobilized ideas and people. We can remember when the ice storm hit Austin in February of 2003. He had made a commitment to go there and work with legislators on behalf of what ultimately became Proposition 12, medical liability reform.

The Capitol was virtually closed down, Austin was at a "crawl"...but not McGee. He told the medical liability crisis "story" all over that building. And then walked fearlessly down the slope of the Capitol to the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (about five blocks away) while others slid and fell, cars had fender benders and those of more modest physical skills pleaded with him to "slow up." Slow up? When his mind was made up, he went full speed ahead.

But he only moved at break-neck speed after listening, thinking, and reasoning with others. Dr. McGee was a great listener. And he would not countenance meandering of thought until he got his brilliant mind around an issue. Modest in style. Modest in accepting accolades. He kept it humble. He was a wise man at a young age. He embraced the concept of diversity, appreciated all the multi-cultures that he encountered. Loved good people. Fought with those who he believed had personal agendas rather than community or medicine first. His wisdom was sought by many and shared with even more as people would say loudly or in whispers: "Dr McGee said...or Gordon suggested...." His name had that kind of power.

As physicians, we saw him deliver a stirring, passionate, nomination for one of his Border Health Caucus colleagues for the Board of Trustees for the Texas Medical Association just under three years ago. That speech was credited in part to the person's election to that board which oversees how organized medicine articulates its collective voice for more than 50,000 doctors at the Texas Capitol and in the halls of Congress.

How about the way he served his beloved El Paso? Boards, commissions, community projects, the medical school...his footprints and even more importantly his fingerprints are all over his community. He knew the challenges of living in El Paso, especially as it pertained to access to health care for the people of the Border and the rest of Texas.

That is but one reason why he was so effective in helping Texans. Through his "fun-loving personality," his healthy skepticism and penetrating questions, thoughtful listening, he was more than leader. He was a giant in his community and he was a giant in medicine.

The last week of his life, he spent visiting with his friends and family. He shared with several that his life was nearing the "lick-log" stage. He was not well in his last years but it did not show other than his need for oxygen. Still he did not slow down. Miss him? How? He is all around us in the deeds that he has done, the programs he has started and family and the friends who will carry his commitment to community and medicine forward. Guardian Angel? El Paso has another great one.

The Border, Texas, we know he will be watching and guiding and we will be listening and his wise counsel filters through those he loved and cared about. Thank you, dear friend!

Manuel Alvarez, M.D., is immediate past chair of the Border Health Caucus.