The Life of Dr. Norman C Nelson
Dr. Norman C. Nelson, who led the University of Mississippi Medical Center during 21 years of its most dynamic growth, died at his home on April 21, 2016. He was 86.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 AM on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Flowood, MS. Dr. Nelson will be buried in Lafayette, LA at Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery, at 5:00 PM on April 27, 2016. Ott and Lee Funeral Home of Brandon is handling arrangements.
Dr. Nelson began his career in academic medicine at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, La., rising through the ranks to become medical school dean. He came to Mississippi’s health sciences campus in 1973 as vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. At the beginning of his remarkable tenure, the Medical Center consisted of two health professional schools, a teaching hospital and a small research program.
When he retired in 1994, he had transformed the institution into a nationally respected health sciences campus with four health professional schools, a major teaching hospital, a robust research program – and the largest, funded physical plant expansion package in the state’s educational history. That package of eight new buildings, added to the 10 authorized and constructed during his tenure, essentially gave the Medical Center a new physical plant.
Former College Board Member Frank Crosthwait, Jr., of Indianola, worked with Dr. Nelson from 1984 until Dr. Nelson’s retirement in 1994. He called him “a valued friend” he greatly admired.
“He gave UMMC outstanding leadership during a period of great growth and was well- respected not only by his peers but the citizens of Mississippi,” Crosthwait said. “Our sympathy and prayers are with Annie Lee and the family.”
Brad Dye, who served as Mississippi’s lieutenant governor from 1980 – 1992, said Dr. Nelson’s “outstanding leadership and vision have benefitted and will forever impact every Mississippian. His untiring work ethic and focus were always on improving health care and making it accessible to all citizens.
“He was convincing and skillful in presenting to the legislature the needs and potential of the Medical Center, its patients, students and employees,” Dye said. “He was also a valued and trusted friend to me and countless others who admired and respected him.”
Dr. Nelson first came to Mississippi at five when his father, an attorney, bought the National Park Hotel in Vicksburg. His family also lived briefly in Biloxi before moving to Houston, Texas, where he completed primary and secondary school. From Texas, he went to Tulane University in New Orleans, where he earned his BS in 1951 and the MD in 1954 and was tapped for membership in the academic honor societies of Sigma XI, Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Omega Alpha.
He interned at Charity Hospital of New Orleans, then spent a year in private practice before serving from 1956 – 1958 on active duty as a Captain in the Medical Corps, USAR 101st Airborne Division. He took his residency in general surgery at Charity Hospital from 1958-1962, then held a US Public Health Fellowship at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital as a clinical research fellow from 1962-1963. He joined the LSU surgery faculty in 1963, became the medical school’s associate dean in 1969 and dean in 1971.
From 1965-1970, Dr. Nelson held a prestigious John and Mary R. Markle Fellowship, one of the most coveted honors in academic medicine. Among his other recognitions were the 1969 Arthur M. Shipley Award from the Southern Surgical Association; eight awards for teaching excellence during his years at LSU; the 1985 (and first) Herman Glazier Award as the Outstanding Public Administrator from the Mississippi Chapter of the American Society for Public Administrators; the 1989 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Tulane School of Medicine; and a 2013 Hall of Fame election by the Medical Alumni Chapter of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association.
But no honor meant more to Dr. Nelson than the designation of the student union at the Medical Center in his name. He frequently told his faculty and staff that the “only reason we have a job is because of our students” because the institution’s principal mission is “to train health professionals for Mississippi.”
Dr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Sander Noble Nelson and Lillian Olsen Nelson of Houston, TX and his brother, Sander of Houston, TX. Survivors include Annie Lee, his wife of 61 years whom he always referred to as his best friend; their children, Dr. Norman C. Nelson, Jr. and his wife, Rebecca, of Macon, GA and their children, Meredith Lancaster and her husband, Jonathan of Atlanta, GA, Sarah and Julia, of Macon, GA., Charles Nelson of Brandon, Dr. Jennifer Nelson of New Orleans, LA. He is also survived by two nephews, Eric Nelson of Houston, TX, Lee Nelson and his wife Lisa of Gainesville, FL and their children Ashley of Los Angeles, CA and Christopher of Atlanta, GA.
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In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Dr. Nelson’s memory be made to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute, c/o of the Development Office, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 AM on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Flowood, MS. Dr. Nelson will be buried in Lafayette, LA at Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery, at 5:00 PM on April 27, 2016. Ott and Lee Funeral Home of Brandon is handling arrangements.
Dr. Nelson began his career in academic medicine at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, La., rising through the ranks to become medical school dean. He came to Mississippi’s health sciences campus in 1973 as vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. At the beginning of his remarkable tenure, the Medical Center consisted of two health professional schools, a teaching hospital and a small research program.
When he retired in 1994, he had transformed the institution into a nationally respected health sciences campus with four health professional schools, a major teaching hospital, a robust research program – and the largest, funded physical plant expansion package in the state’s educational history. That package of eight new buildings, added to the 10 authorized and constructed during his tenure, essentially gave the Medical Center a new physical plant.
Former College Board Member Frank Crosthwait, Jr., of Indianola, worked with Dr. Nelson from 1984 until Dr. Nelson’s retirement in 1994. He called him “a valued friend” he greatly admired.
“He gave UMMC outstanding leadership during a period of great growth and was well- respected not only by his peers but the citizens of Mississippi,” Crosthwait said. “Our sympathy and prayers are with Annie Lee and the family.”
Brad Dye, who served as Mississippi’s lieutenant governor from 1980 – 1992, said Dr. Nelson’s “outstanding leadership and vision have benefitted and will forever impact every Mississippian. His untiring work ethic and focus were always on improving health care and making it accessible to all citizens.
“He was convincing and skillful in presenting to the legislature the needs and potential of the Medical Center, its patients, students and employees,” Dye said. “He was also a valued and trusted friend to me and countless others who admired and respected him.”
Dr. Nelson first came to Mississippi at five when his father, an attorney, bought the National Park Hotel in Vicksburg. His family also lived briefly in Biloxi before moving to Houston, Texas, where he completed primary and secondary school. From Texas, he went to Tulane University in New Orleans, where he earned his BS in 1951 and the MD in 1954 and was tapped for membership in the academic honor societies of Sigma XI, Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Omega Alpha.
He interned at Charity Hospital of New Orleans, then spent a year in private practice before serving from 1956 – 1958 on active duty as a Captain in the Medical Corps, USAR 101st Airborne Division. He took his residency in general surgery at Charity Hospital from 1958-1962, then held a US Public Health Fellowship at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital as a clinical research fellow from 1962-1963. He joined the LSU surgery faculty in 1963, became the medical school’s associate dean in 1969 and dean in 1971.
From 1965-1970, Dr. Nelson held a prestigious John and Mary R. Markle Fellowship, one of the most coveted honors in academic medicine. Among his other recognitions were the 1969 Arthur M. Shipley Award from the Southern Surgical Association; eight awards for teaching excellence during his years at LSU; the 1985 (and first) Herman Glazier Award as the Outstanding Public Administrator from the Mississippi Chapter of the American Society for Public Administrators; the 1989 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Tulane School of Medicine; and a 2013 Hall of Fame election by the Medical Alumni Chapter of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association.
But no honor meant more to Dr. Nelson than the designation of the student union at the Medical Center in his name. He frequently told his faculty and staff that the “only reason we have a job is because of our students” because the institution’s principal mission is “to train health professionals for Mississippi.”
Dr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Sander Noble Nelson and Lillian Olsen Nelson of Houston, TX and his brother, Sander of Houston, TX. Survivors include Annie Lee, his wife of 61 years whom he always referred to as his best friend; their children, Dr. Norman C. Nelson, Jr. and his wife, Rebecca, of Macon, GA and their children, Meredith Lancaster and her husband, Jonathan of Atlanta, GA, Sarah and Julia, of Macon, GA., Charles Nelson of Brandon, Dr. Jennifer Nelson of New Orleans, LA. He is also survived by two nephews, Eric Nelson of Houston, TX, Lee Nelson and his wife Lisa of Gainesville, FL and their children Ashley of Los Angeles, CA and Christopher of Atlanta, GA.
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In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Dr. Nelson’s memory be made to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute, c/o of the Development Office, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.
