Author Biographical Info
Dr. Frederick C. Elliott was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on October 26, 1893. He worked for a short time as a pharmacist.
In 1918, he received his doctorate in dentistry from Kansas City Dental College. The following year he taught at the same institution as an instructor of Histology and Clinical Dentistry. For the next four years, 1919-1923 he served as Professor of General and Dental Pathology and eventually Superintendent of Clinics at Kansas City-Western Dental College. Dr. Elliott accepted the position of Superintendent of Clinics in 1928 at the University of Tennessee, College of Dentistry. In that same year on April 28 he married Ann Orr.
Houston became Dr. Elliott's home in 1932 when he accepted a Professorship of Dental Prosthesis and Deanship at the Texas Dental College. He was instrumental in getting the Texas Dental College to become part of the University of Texas System. From 1943 to 1952 he served in both academic and administrative posts in the University's School of Dentistry.
Dr. Elliott's vision, dedication and perserverance were instrumental in the growth and development of the Texas Medical Center. He campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the Dental Branch and the Texas Medical Center. Under his leadership as Executive Director and Secretary of the Board of Directors, 1952-1963 over $120 million dollars of capital improvements were planned and completed. Even after his retirement Dr. Elliott continued to lend support and encouragement to the Texas Medical Center.
Dr. Elliott wrote and spoke extensively on the University of Texas System and the Texas Medical Center. In the 1950s and 60s Dr. Elliott, Dr. James P. Hollers and others were active participants in the structuring of the South Texas Medical Center in San Antonio.
In addition to his administrative and teaching responsibilities Dr. Elliott was an active member in many professional associations and organizations, including : American Dental Association, Tennessee State Dental Association, Houston District Dental Society - Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science - Fellow, Texas Academy of Science, Texas State Dental Society, Federation Dentaire Internationale, International Association for Dental Research. He also lent his energies and expertise to government service, civic and business organizations and hospitals.
Dr. Elliott has received numerous awards, honors and citations. The William John Gies Award (1973) from the American College of Dentists, the Gold Medal Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy (1960), Dentist of the Century in commemoration of the Houston District Dental Society Centennial on May 16, 1959 are just a few of his earned distinctions.
Dr. Elliott was a deeply religious and patriotic individual. His concern for humanity fueled his efforts for excellence in teaching and health care systems. On December 31, 1986 the Texas Medical Center lost one of its most industrious founders.
Keywords
Texas Medical Center, Don N. Macon, MDA-TV (Television station : Houston, Tex.), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dental Branch, Ernst William Bertner, Houston Chamber of Commerce, William B. Bates
Abstract
Part 2 of this series covers Dr. Elliott's activities from 1932, when he became Dean of the Texas Dental College, until 1943 when the school was brought into the University of Texas System as the Dental Branch in Houston. The Texas Dental College faced financial problems. The faculty was primarily composed of part time staff. Dr. Elliott went to work to improve teaching methods, recruit student and patients for the clinic. Dr. Elliott served on numerous health committees such as the Houston Board of Health and the Public health Commission of the Houston Chamber of Commerce. The image of the Texas Dental College changed from a place that only trained dentists to a health education and awareness institution. During these years Dr. Elliott met Col. William B. Bates who was Chairman of the School Board and Dr. E. W. Bertner who also served on the Houston Board of Health. Efforts to make the Texas Dental College a state school were revived in 1939. House Bill #278 was passed in 1943, and the University of Texas Dental Branch came into being on September 1st. of that year. See more at https://archives.library.tmc.edu/avv-ic084-035.
Comments
Digital copies made available by the Texas Medical Center Library.