[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF DR. JAMES O. McBRIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2005

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give tribute to Dr. James 
O. McBride, from Fort Worth in the 26th Congressional District of 
Texas, for his lifelong contributions to his community and to medicine. 
Dr. McBride started the first open-heart surgery program in Fort Worth. 
Dr. Brooks died on March 11th at the age of 86.
  I would like to recognize and celebrate Dr. McBride's life today. Dr. 
McBride was a third generation Fort Worth resident. Dr. McBride 
graduated from Central High School before going on to college at Texas 
Christian University. He then went to the University of Texas Medical 
Branch in Galveston and received his PhD in 1942. When Dr. McBride 
finished his internship in Fort Worth, he went on active duty with the 
Navy as a surgeon in the Pacific Theater. There, he earned a Navy Unit 
Citation and nine battle stars.
  Upon completion of his active duty in 1946, Dr. McBride completed 
medical residencies at Bellevue Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian 
Hospital in New York. In 1951, Dr. McBride moved back to Fort Worth 
where he set up a thoracic surgery practice. He was known for visiting 
with patients' families after performing an operation, which was 
virtually unheard of then. While at Saint Joseph Hospital, Dr. McBride 
began the first open-heart surgery program in Fort Worth. He was later 
promoted to chief of surgery at Saint Joseph Hospital. Dr. McBride was 
also the chief of thoracic surgery at John Peter Smith Hospital.
  Dr. McBride was very active in several philanthropic organizations 
and served on the board or as a chairman for the Fort Worth Chapter of 
the American Lung Association, YMCA's Camp Carter, Joseph White 
Foundation, Carter Blood Center, and Country Day School and Union Bank. 
Dr. McBride's community realized his great services in 1989 when he was 
presented with the Gold-Headed Cane Award by Tarrant County Medical 
Society. Only a doctor who has been a society member for 20 or more 
years can receive the award.
  I respected him as a fellow doctor and was honored to represent him 
here in Congress. I extend my sympathies to his family and friends. Dr. 
McBride was described by one of his sons as a ``source of guidance for 
whoever sought his counsel.'' Such a man can never be replaced and will 
be dearly missed.

                          ____________________