Russ, Witten Booth, 1874-1964

San Antonio physician, lecturer, and writer. Dr. Russ began medical practice in San Antonio in 1903 and was one of the organizers of the Physicians and Surgeons Hospital, now part of the Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was also one of the organizers of the Texas State Medical Association and served as its president. Dr. Russ was largely responsible for enactment of State laws creating a State Board of Health, of which he was later a member. He was also instrumental in the adoption of the Medical Practice Act, the Anatomical Law, and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Between 1901 and 1944, Dr. Russ prepared and presented 27 medical papers and speeches, and in 1952 published his book, "A Doctor Looks at Life."

Witten Booth Russ was born in Kingston, Louisiana, on September 18, 1874. He was the oldest of seven children and moved with his family to San Antonio in 1890. He was educated by private tutors, attended the Old San Antonio Academy and then took pre-med training at the University of Texas. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1898.

Russ began his medical practice in San Antonio in 1901 starting as a general practitioner. He later limited his practice to surgery and became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. During World War I, Dr. Russ was a major in the Army Medical Reserve Corp assigned as medical aide to the Texas governor and later serving on active duty as chief of the surgical service of Camp Wheeler, GA. He served in World War II as senior public health officer and regional medical director of the Civilian Defense Office.

Dr. Russ was widely known for his wit and pungent remarks and gave talks to over 100 Rotary Clubs. He was the author of many medical articles, preparing and presenting 27 medical papers and speeches between 1901 and 1944. He published one book in 1952, “A Doctor Looks at Life,” a collection of his essays, letters, and speeches on politics, religion, and many phases of the medical profession.

In 1903 he was one of the principals in founding the Old Physicians and Surgeons Hospital, which became part of the Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was one of the organizers of the International Medical Assembly of Southwest Texas, and he was also one of the organizers of the Texas State Medical Association and served as its president in 1909. He also served as president of the Bexar County Medical Society in 1904.

He was largely responsible for enactment of state laws creating a State Board of Medical Examiners and setting up a State Board of Health, of which he was later a member. He was also instrumental in the adoption of the Medical Practice Act, the Anatomical Law, the Tuberculosis Sanitorium Law and the Pure Food and Drug Act.

Dr. Russ was one of San Antonio’s oldest practicing physicians at the age of 90. In a 1963 article in the San Antonio Express newspaper, he is quoted as saying his key philosophy through the decades could be summed up as “obstacles develop character and happiness is service to others.” He died November 1964.

Sources:

Dr. W. B. Russ, Texas State Journal of Medicine 61:159, February 1965.

Doctors’ Week Scheduled San Antonio Express, March 24, 1963.