[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 8, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO DR. J. CAMERON THORNHILL

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. J. 
Cameron Thornhill, a doctor whose work has been invaluable to the 
Brooklyn community.
  Dr. J. Cameron Thornhill was born August 28, 1909, in Christ Church, 
Barbados, West Indies, and will celebrate his 101st birthday on August 
28, 2010.
  Dr. Thornhill graduated from Boys High Evening School in Brooklyn in 
1934. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania from 1936-1940, 
where he earned his Bachelor of Arts. He attended Meharry Medical 
College in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1940 to 1944, where he was 
awarded his Medical Doctor degree. Between 1944 and 1946, Dr. Thornhill 
did an internship and residency at Kansas City, Missouri, General 
Hospital Number Two. He started a medical practice in 1946 in Brooklyn, 
NY.
  From 1950 to 1952, he served as a medical officer, Captain, in the 
U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. Between 1953 and 1957, Dr. 
Thornhill performed various surgical residencies at Bethel Hospital, 
now known as Brookdale Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York; Veterans 
Hospital of East Orange, New Jersey; and Harlem Hospital, New York 
City, where he remained on staff for over 15 years. From 1958 to 1996, 
he opened and operated a surgical family practice in Brooklyn, while 
working at St. John's Hospital, which is now Interfaith Hospital, and 
Lefferts General Hospital of Brooklyn, New York. He served the Brooklyn 
community for over 40 years before fully retiring at the age of 84 from 
the New York State Workers Compensation Board as a Medical Examiner.
  Dr. Thornhill is an emeritus member of the Kings County Medical 
Society, National Medical Association, and the American Medical 
Association. He has been honored by the Provident Clinical Society of 
Brooklyn, New York and most recently received special recognition at 
the 2009 National Medical Association Convention.
  Dr. Thornhill and his wife, Mercedes Murray, were married on April 3, 
1947. They have four children: J. Cameron Thornhill Jr., Dr. Monica 
Thornhill-Joynes, MD, Dr. D. Blair Thornhill, MD, and Ms. Donna 
Thornhill. His eldest child Cameron, Jr., predeceased him in 2008. He 
is the proud grandfather of five grandchildren and the proud great 
grandfather of two great grandchildren. His brother Cleveland Thornhill 
is 97 years old, and his sister Gladys Minnette Powell passed away on 
August 21, 2009, at the age of 98.
  Dr. Thornhill loves the outdoors and has vacationed at Chenango 
Valley State Park in upstate New York every year with family and 
friends since 1955. He is an avid handball and paddle ball player and 
played the game until the age of 98. He enjoys golf and bridge. 
Additionally, Dr. Thornhill is an avid traveler and has visited several 
nations in Africa and walked the Great Wall of China in his 90's. He 
has visited many Caribbean countries on numerous trips, including Cuba 
and Panama.
  He has been attending Siloam Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, New 
York for more than 50 years. Dr. Thornhill is a member of Phi Beta 
Sigma Fraternity. He is a tenacious motivator who continues to avidly 
inspire the pursuit of education to his family members and the 
community at large.
  Dr. Thornhill is a pillar of his community and has always been a 
loving and giving person to his family, friends and community.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
contributions of Dr. J. Cameron Thornhill.

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