Dr. Kermit Pitt in Decatur, AL
Replies: 1
Dr. Kermit Pitt in Decatur, AL
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Posted: 7 Nov 2006 4:54AM GMT |
Classification: Query
By Kristen Bishop
DAILY Staff Writer
kbishop@decaturdaily.com · 340-2443
After more than 50 years of medical service in Decatur, the city's first pediatrician died Sunday morning at 93.
Dr. Kermit Pitt was well known throughout the community for his caring, innovative approach to treating children, said former associate Dr. Bill Walker. Dr. Walker and Dr. Pitt had adjacent offices from 1956 until Dr. Pitt retired in 1989.
"He was always on the cutting edge," said Dr. Walker. "He did things in Decatur that astounded everyone from the time he set up his practice in 1947."
Dr. Pitt was the only pediatrician between Birmingham and Nashville at that time, said Dr. Walker. His first practice was on Grant Street Southeast, and he later moved to Medical Park on 13th Avenue.
Dr. Walker said Dr. Pitt was the first in the area to perform transfusions for children with blood diseases and surgeries for newborns with pyloric stenosis.
"He even had a bacteriological lab that was the envy of everyone in the state," he said. "He was very informed and kept current on all medical advances. He was really an inspiration."
Dr. Pitt, a graduate of Lawrence County High School, was raised on a farm in Lawrence County. He graduated from Berea College in Kentucky in 1932 and earned his medical degree at Tulane University in 1939.
He received numerous awards throughout his career, including Civitan of the Year 1988, the Samuel Buford Word Award for outstanding service to humanity, and the Wallace A. Clyde Distinguished Service Award for excellence in pediatrics.
The Decatur General Foundation honored Dr. Pitt with the John A. Caddell Award in 1985 for "demonstrating a love for human kind and making the community a better place to live," said Foundation President Trudy Grisham. It was the second year the award was presented at the foundation's Gala.
"He was honored because of his many years of devotion to children," said Grisham. "He was a friend and mentor to me, and was an active member of the foundation up to his death."
In 1998, Decatur General named its pediatric unit after Dr. Pitt. Rex Rankin Sr., 81, said Dr. Pitt grew so attached to his patients that he would often treat them well into adulthood.
"He treated all of our children for most of their lives," said Rankin. "I used to get medical advice from him all the time, and one day, when I was 70, he joked with me and said that I might need to go get a real doctor."
Dr. Pitt is survived by his wife, Zelda Pitt of Decatur; a daughter, Patsy Julich of Indianola, Fla.; a son, Redding Pitt of Birmingham; two brothers, McCoy Pitt of Decatur and Leldon Pitt of Philadelphia; and a sister, Alene Dockery of Orlando, Fla.
Roselawn Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
DAILY Staff Writer
kbishop@decaturdaily.com · 340-2443
After more than 50 years of medical service in Decatur, the city's first pediatrician died Sunday morning at 93.
Dr. Kermit Pitt was well known throughout the community for his caring, innovative approach to treating children, said former associate Dr. Bill Walker. Dr. Walker and Dr. Pitt had adjacent offices from 1956 until Dr. Pitt retired in 1989.
"He was always on the cutting edge," said Dr. Walker. "He did things in Decatur that astounded everyone from the time he set up his practice in 1947."
Dr. Pitt was the only pediatrician between Birmingham and Nashville at that time, said Dr. Walker. His first practice was on Grant Street Southeast, and he later moved to Medical Park on 13th Avenue.
Dr. Walker said Dr. Pitt was the first in the area to perform transfusions for children with blood diseases and surgeries for newborns with pyloric stenosis.
"He even had a bacteriological lab that was the envy of everyone in the state," he said. "He was very informed and kept current on all medical advances. He was really an inspiration."
Dr. Pitt, a graduate of Lawrence County High School, was raised on a farm in Lawrence County. He graduated from Berea College in Kentucky in 1932 and earned his medical degree at Tulane University in 1939.
He received numerous awards throughout his career, including Civitan of the Year 1988, the Samuel Buford Word Award for outstanding service to humanity, and the Wallace A. Clyde Distinguished Service Award for excellence in pediatrics.
The Decatur General Foundation honored Dr. Pitt with the John A. Caddell Award in 1985 for "demonstrating a love for human kind and making the community a better place to live," said Foundation President Trudy Grisham. It was the second year the award was presented at the foundation's Gala.
"He was honored because of his many years of devotion to children," said Grisham. "He was a friend and mentor to me, and was an active member of the foundation up to his death."
In 1998, Decatur General named its pediatric unit after Dr. Pitt. Rex Rankin Sr., 81, said Dr. Pitt grew so attached to his patients that he would often treat them well into adulthood.
"He treated all of our children for most of their lives," said Rankin. "I used to get medical advice from him all the time, and one day, when I was 70, he joked with me and said that I might need to go get a real doctor."
Dr. Pitt is survived by his wife, Zelda Pitt of Decatur; a daughter, Patsy Julich of Indianola, Fla.; a son, Redding Pitt of Birmingham; two brothers, McCoy Pitt of Decatur and Leldon Pitt of Philadelphia; and a sister, Alene Dockery of Orlando, Fla.
Roselawn Funeral Home will announce arrangements.