On September 17, 2005, Dr. Charles Cameron Sprague died in Dallas at the age of 88. Dr. Sprague served as ASH President in 1968, the culmination of an illustrious career as an academic hematologist. After receiving his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, he trained in Internal Medicine at Tulane and studied hematology at Washington University in St. Louis and at Oxford University in England. He returned to Tulane as a junior faculty member in 1952 and rapidly rose to full professor in 1963 and to dean the following year. His research focused on diverse areas of hematology, but his particular interest was sickle cell disease.
Building on his many accomplishments as a hematologist, Dr. Sprague subsequently emerged as a talented administrative leader. He became Dean of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in 1967, and several years later was named its first President. Not only was he a visionary leader who led UT Southwestern's explosive growth and brought it into the top ranks of American medical schools through his outstanding recruiting efforts, but he was much loved for his kindness and people skills as he served his community. Upon his retirement as UT Southwestern's President in 1986, he became Chairman and CEO of the Southwestern Medical Foundation.
Dr. Sprague is survived by his wife, daughter, step-daughters, and many grandchildren.
