 r. Sparkman was born in Brownwood,
Texas, the son of Viola and Ellis Sparkman. He graduated
from Baylor University College of Medicine in Dallas in
1935 and completed a general surgery residency at
Cincinnati General Hospital in 1940. After his residency,
he entered the US Army in 1940 and left the service in
1946 as a colonel honored with an Oak Leaf Cluster,
Bronze Star, Invasion Arrowhead, and 3 Battle Stars. In
1942, he married Ms. Willie Ford Bassett, a debutante,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Bassett of Kosse, Texas.
After the completion of his military duty, he entered the
private practice of surgery in Dallas. Dr. Sparkman was
named chief of Surgery in 1969 and was chief for 12 years
until December 31, 1981. During his tenure, funding of a
chair for the chief of Surgery was started in 1976, and
Dr. Ronald C. Jones was named the first Robert S.
Sparkman Chair in Surgery in 1987.
Dr.
Sparkman was president of the Texas Surgical Society in
1965. That year, he published the book The First 50
Years of the Texas Surgical Society 1915–1965.
He was vice president of the American Surgical
Association in 1977 and served as president of the
Southern Surgical Association in 1978 at its 90th
meeting. He was appointed to prepare a historical exhibit
of the first 100 years of the American Surgical
Association, which was displayed at its 100th anniversary
meeting in Atlanta in April 1980. For that meeting, he
prepared and edited a 3-volume set of the minutes of the
American Surgical Association, and the council presented
Dr. Sparkman with a commemorative plaque acknowledging
his efforts in compiling archival material for the
American Surgical Association. Such action by the council
was rare.
For
the 100th meeting of the Southern Surgical Association,
Dr. Sparkman was asked to compile a collection of
historical documents and memorabilia to display during
the 1987 meeting at the Homestead. He edited a book The
Southern Surgical Association, The First 100 Years
1887–1987. The council recognized the
tremendous effort of Dr. Sparkman in planning,
organizing, and conducting the special activities of the
centennial meeting by making him an honorary member of
the Southern Surgical Association. This collection of
documents is now housed at the University of Alabama.
In
1976, Dr. Sparkman was honored as a distinguished alumnus
of Baylor University. He received an honorary Doctor of
Laws degree from Baylor University in Waco in 1974. He
was the recipient of the 1993 A. C. Greene Award and
served on the board of directors of Fondren Library at
Southern Methodist University. He was instrumental in
building the Dallas Public Library’s collection of
imprints by Carl Hertzog of El Paso and served on its
elected advisory board as an honorary lifetime member of
the Friends of the Dallas Public Library. Dr. Sparkman
created the Robert S. Sparkman Endowment for Special
Acquisitions through the Friends of the Dallas Public
Library.
Dr.
Sparkman was a governor of the American College of
Surgeons, and the North Texas Chapter of the American
College of Surgeons established the Robert S. Sparkman
Lectureship. He was an honorary member of the National
Association of Program Directors in Surgery. He was
responsible for establishing numerous endowments,
including lectureships and departmental chairs. Dr.
Sparkman is recognized for his contributions to medical
history, surgical organizations, surgical education, and
philanthropy, and as a teacher, scholar, and surgeon.
Because
of Dr. Sparkman’s interest in medical history,
documentation of important presentations at meetings,
photographs of speakers and events, commitment to
surgical education, and philanthropic support which has
included the founding of the Society of Baylor Surgeons,
it is appropriate that he be recognized by naming a
library and conference room in the Department of Surgery
as the Robert S. Sparkman Library and Conference Center.
Funds have been made available through the Baylor Health
Care System Foundation to build this facility, and a
portion of Dr. Sparkman’s memorabilia is displayed
in the library and conference center.
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Medical history teaches
us where we came from, where we stand in medicine at the
present time, and in what direction we are marching. It
is the compass that guides us into the future. If our
work is not to be haphazard but to follow a well-laid
plan, we need the guidance of history, and it is not by
accident that all great medical leaders were fully aware
of the value of historical studies.
—HENRY E. SIGERIST (1891–1957)
 hese words, found in the July 1998
issue of the Baylor University Medical Center
Proceedings (1), describe Dr. Sparkman
perfectly. He was a gentleman of uncompromising
integrity, superb scholarship, and not given to
self-aggrandizement. He compiled histories of such
renowned organizations as the Texas Surgical Society,
Southern Surgical Association, and the American Surgical
Association.
Although
he was short in stature, he cast a long shadow,
particularly for “his boys”—his residents.
To have had the opportunity to train under such a superb
person was truly a gift. As a chief, he was fair though
firm. When I was requested to come to his office, if he
started, “Now, John,” I knew that I had
transgressed, and this was not to be a social visit.
He had a marvelous sense of humor
and used it often. When he told us to do something, he
followed up with “this is only a suggestion, but
remember who is making it.” Another time when
several of us were with him, he introduced us to a friend
as his residents. The person was somewhat taken aback,
seeing our gray hair and the evidence of our age. When
questioned, Dr. Sparkman replied, “once a resident,
always a resident.”
In
his address at the Michael E. DeBakey International
Surgical Society, C. Rollins Hanlon (2) made 4 points: teachers
must be able to instruct their pupils—pass on
information and inculcate a desire for continued
self-education; teachers are exemplars or heroes who are
commemorated through imitation by their
students—they are worthy to be emulated; certain
teachers are commemorated because they developed
“schools” or philosophies in the field of
surgery; and, teachers have personal characteristics that
help form attitudes and virtues in their pupils. Dr.
Sparkman was a world-renowned surgeon who created an
atmosphere conducive to learning and who could impart
knowledge to my fellow residents and me. Some say that
this was when the title of “Miracle Worker” was
appended to his name. We learned as residents but have
learned even more after training. He took an active
interest in each of us, and this did not stop after we
completed our formal training. He was a true hero, worthy
of imitation.
Dr. Sparkman was our surgical
father. Just as our own fathers helped us grow and
develop, Dr. Sparkman molded us from medical school
graduates into caring, capable surgeons. Patience and
compassion were hallmarks that he ingrained in us. He
also imbued an appreciation for art, music, and
study—particularly history, surgical history, our
heritage. He loved each of us and gave unselfishly of
himself that we might be better persons and physicians.
That love was reciprocated by all. He made a
difference. He touched the lives of many people,
particularly his patients and his residents, and through
us, our patients. We are better for it.
Dr. Seymour Schwartz, in his
editorial “The honorable scholar,” (3) commemorated Dr.
Sparkman as a man who immersed himself in his work that
was characterized by thoroughness, accuracy, and
precision. In describing Dr. Sparkman, Dr. Schwartz
quoted from King Henry VIII, act IV, scene 2,
line 51: “He was a scholar, and a ripe and good
one.”
Dr.
Sparkman was a devoted husband to his lovely wife, Willie
Ford Bassett Sparkman. “The true index of a
man’s character is the health of his wife” (4). By this measure, too,
he showed greatness. They traveled widely, carrying the
ubiquitous camera and tape recorder. They were
inseparable and dedicated to each other. Mrs. Sparkman
was a pillar of strength throughout their lives together.
We all thank her for her generosity and willingness to
share her treasure with others. She is an exemplar in her
own right, to be emulated by those who would be called a
lady.
Throughout
history, writers have given the reason for
farsightedness—from Lucan in AD 65: “Pygmies placed on the
shoulders of giants see more than the giants
themselves,” to Bernard de Chartres in the tenth
century: “We are like dwarfs seated on the shoulders
of giants. If we see more and farther than they, it is
not due to our own clear eyes or tall bodies, but because
we are raised on high and upborn by their gigantic
bigness.” We are all better for having been seated
upon the shoulders of this great man.
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