Emerson Emory, M.D., was born in Dallas, Texas, on January 29, 1925, the only child of Corry Bates Emory, a janitor, and Louise Emory, a housekeeper. In 1940, Emory graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and enrolled in Prairie View College near Houston to follow his dreams of becoming a physician. On his eighteenth birthday, in 1943, he enlisted into the United States Army. He completed Infantry Basic Training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, and was then transferred to the Basic Engineer Program at Howard University through the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). After serving with the 3607th and 3533rd Quartermaster Truck Companies in the European and Asiatic-Pacific theatres of operation, Emory was discharged in February 1946.
After the war, Emory returned to college at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and completed his bachelor’s degree in biology in 1948. He continued his education at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he received his medical degree in 1952. During this time, he was commissioned as an Ensign, HP (half-pay) in the United States Naval Reserves. Shortly after finishing his medical degree, Emory returned home where he became the first African-American intern at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas. He then served as a resident at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, and Wadsworth General Hospital in Los Angeles. Dr. Emory once again returned to Dallas in 1956 and was appointed Staff Physician at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He began his private practice in internal medicine in 1960.
Dr. Emory continued to serve the Dallas community as well as his country. He volunteered as a physician on numerous occasions, including a 1966 mission in Vietnam. Active politically, he fought for civil rights and helped other doctors find healthcare for underprivileged families. He was a member of many organizations, including the United Service Organization, White House Conference on Children, Black Citizens for Justice, Law and Order, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Dr. Emory also enjoyed writing about important issues and experiences in his life, and at one time published a local newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, named for the first black newspaper in the country. He married Peggy Herald; the couple had three children-Karon, Sharon, and Emerson, Jr. (Rusty). Dr. Emory died on January 28, 2003.
Sources
- Emerson Emory Papers, AR466, Box 1, Folder 1, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library.
- Emerson Emory Papers, AR466, Box 1, Folder 19, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library.
- Simnacher, Joe and Kim Horner, Doctor, rights crusader was proud of Confederate Roots,
Dallas Morning News, January 29, 2003.
From the guide to the Emerson Emory Papers AR466., 1893-2003, 1944-2003, (Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library)
