Family establishes scholarship to honor father’s legacy

Members of Dr. Major’s proud family are pictured (L-R): son-in-law, J.T. Telle; daughter, Kay Telle; daughter, Krys Major-Lovan; daughter, Carol Inouye; wife, Mabel Major; daughter-in-law, Debra Major; and son, James Major.

In 1946, Alexander David (A.D.) Major, M.D., established the Major Clinic Hospital in the north central Texas community of Nocona in a building with 15 patient rooms. His father built it for him and his two brothers, also physicians, so they could begin their practice.

A 1939 graduate of Baylor Medical School and a veteran of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit during World War II, Dr. Major was a brilliant, determined and resourceful man. He displayed great ingenuity as he expanded the clinic with the goal of reaching out to his community to help those in need of vital health care and health care education. It was the beginning of a dream that would live for generations to come.

Dr. Major married Mabel Kathryn Chandler in 1941 and they had seven children and, later, 18 grandchildren. He passed away in 1985. To honor Dr. Major’s legacy of generosity and dedication to education and health care, his extensive family established the Dr. and Mrs. A.D. Major Presidential Endowed Scholarship at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio.

In 2007, his daughter, Kay Telle, a registered nurse, spearheaded the campaign to create an endowed scholarship in her father’s honor. The family pooled resources in the amount of $37,665.50 to establish the endowed scholarship. This year, that fund has grown to more than $50,000, elevating it to the rank of a Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

“My father valued education and loved the practice of medicine, so this is a very fitting tribute to his memory,” Telle said.

President Cigarroa thanked Telle, Mrs. Major and all of the late Dr. Major’s family:

“You can take pride in knowing firsthand the great value of the services these young physicians will bring, after they graduate and begin their practice of medicine, to their communities, just as Dr. Major did in his community for so many years. Yours is a gift that will honor the legacy of Dr. Major and transform the future of health care.”