Honoring the 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group: Dr William Coleman PRATT

Tulsa World - Sunday, April 25, 2004

PRATT -- William Coleman, M.D., was born in Sallisaw, OK on January 18, 1912 to Ella Coleman Pratt and John Howard Pratt. Upon his graduation from Central High School in Muskogee, OK in 1929, he was awarded a scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in 1933. There he was the house manager for and a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He was a swimming and life saving instructor at the Muskogee YMCA for one year prior to entering medical school at Washington University, graduating in 1938. During his internship at Geisinger Memorial Hospital in Danville, PA, he met his wife, Elva, who was a nursing student. They were married on February, 14, 1941 in Des Moines, IA.  Following his first year of surgical residency at Geisinger, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army, serving for 5 years during WWII.  He was stationed at Fort Des Moines, IA, Camp Leonardwood, MO, Carlisle Barracks, PA, Randolph Field, TX and Fort Sam Houston, TX. His service included 1-1/2 years with the 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group in the European Theater of Operations. He was awarded the Eurpean African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 battle stars and the Bronze Star for his service. Following his military service, he continued his training in Rochester, MN, where he was a Fellow at the Mayo Clinic, completing a 31/2 year residency program and earning a Masters of Science in Surgery Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1948. His many accomplishments include membership in the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (1949), Fellow in the American College of Surgeons (1954), Fellow of the Southwestern Surgical Congress (1956), American Board of Surgery (1970), member of the Tulsa County Medical Society and a life member of the American Medical Association. He was an Associate at Children's Medical Center in Tulsa, when it was known as "Sunnyside," served as Chief of Staff at St. Francis Hospital for one year and was a staff member at St. John Hospital, Hillcrest and St. Francis.   Dr. Pratt practiced surgery at Springer Clinic for 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elva of the home; and 6 children, Lorraine Pratt (Houston), William Pratt, Jr. (Tulsa), Dr. John Pratt and wife, Sharon (Denver), Nancy Slater and husband, John (Albuquerque), Betsy Long and husband, Lyn (Tulsa), and Thomas Pratt, M.D. and wife, Marsha (Edmond); 10 grandchildren, William Shockley (Los Angeles), Bart Shockley (Houston), Bryce Shockley (Houston), Kerri Snyder (Charlotte, NC), William Pratt III (Tulsa), Matthew Slater (Seattle), Nicole Slater (Albuquerque), and Eric, Sarah and Laura Pratt (Edmond). His great-grandchildren are Cooper, Hayden and Carson Shockley (Houston) and Ashton Shockley (Houston). He was preceded in death by his parents and son, James Wood Pratt. Dr. Pratt dedicated his life to surgery, and the pursuit of knowledge and service to his patients. He had a deep appreciation of the fine arts, and the beauty and wonders of nature. He was an avid reader, an accomplished artist and proud of his Cherokee heritage. His life is celebrated and cherished by the family, friends and former patients to whom he was so devoted. Private family memorial service will be held at All Souls Unitarian Church. Cremation Society of Oklahoma, 599-7337.