Willard W. Schuessler, M.D.
Historical Summary
Willard Warren Schuessler, M.D., was honored in 1990 by the El Paso County Historical Society as a Hall of Honor inductee for his distinguished career in medicine, military service, and civic leadership in El Paso. A plastic and maxillofacial surgeon of pioneer Texas family background, he was born in Chicago, educated in Dallas, attended Southern Methodist University, and graduated from Baylor University School of Medicine with exceptional academic distinction, including membership in Alpha Omega Alpha and the Surgeon General’s award as the outstanding student in his class.
After internship and surgical residency in the Baylor system, Schuessler trained under Dallas plastic surgeon James Mills. Soon after marrying Louise, he entered active military service, eventually serving six years rather than the expected one. During World War II and its aftermath, he headed plastic surgery at Brooke Army Hospital, became Chief of Plastic Surgery at Walter Reed Hospital, and in 1944 came to William Beaumont Medical Center in El Paso as Chief of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery. He left the Army in 1946 with the rank of colonel, later remained a consultant at William Beaumont, served as civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, and received numerous military honors, including the Patriotic Service Award.
In El Paso, Schuessler built a major medical and civic reputation. He served as president of the El Paso County Medical Society, was the first living recipient of its S. T. Turner Award in 1985, served as Chief of Staff at Southwestern General Hospital, held staff appointments at numerous Texas hospitals, and was recognized by New Mexico Governor Garrey E. Carruthers for work benefiting crippled children. His leadership extended to the Texas Medical Association, the Southwestern Medical Association, and the founding of the Southwest Surgical Society.
His public service reached far beyond medicine. Schuessler served as an El Paso alderman, participated in law-enforcement-related organizations as an honorary Texas Ranger and United States Deputy Marshal, and held leadership roles in Crime Stoppers, the Rotary Club of El Paso, the Army YMCA, the Border Patrol Museum and Library, the El Paso Aviation Hall of Fame, the Sun Carnival Association, and the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. With Juárez civic leader René Mascareñas, he helped form the Inter-City Group, which fostered cooperation between El Paso and Juárez and contributed to projects such as the Cordova Bridge.
The tribute also emphasizes the partnership of Willard and Louise Schuessler. Their marriage began after he treated her following an automobile accident, and by 1990 they were approaching their fiftieth anniversary with three children and two grandchildren. Louise Schuessler had already been inducted into the Hall of Honor in 1979 for founding what became the El Paso County Historical Society, making them the only couple so recognized at that time.
Schuessler’s many honors included the City of El Paso’s Conquistador Award, the El Paso Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit, the Mentor of Today Award from El Paso Senior Opportunities and Services, Southern Methodist University’s Outstanding Alumnus Award, and the Humanitarian Award of the National Jewish Hospital and Research Center in Denver. The Hall of Honor tribute presents him as a figure of exceptional professional skill, military distinction, and sustained service who brought lasting credit to El Paso.
Document Transcription
HALL OF HONOR
1990
Tribute to WILLARD WARREN SCHUESSLER, M.D.
by Gordon L. Black, M.D.
For the thirtieth time, the members of the El Paso County Historical Society gather to inscribe upon its Hall of Honor the names of two El Pasoans. Our living honoree this year is Dr. Willard Warren Schuessler, a well-known plastic and maxillofacial surgeon and prominent El Paso civic leader.
Dr. Schuessler is from pioneer-Texan background, but he was born in Chicago while his teacher-father was working toward an advanced degree at Northwestern University. On the family's return to Dallas, young Willard began his educational pursuits. By the time he was a student at Southern Methodist University, he had already exhibited leadership and was elected president of his freshman class. At Baylor University School of Medicine he was selected as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honorary medical fraternity. Membership is accorded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and is the highest award given by medical schools to their students. He was further honored at the time of his graduation by being the recipient of the Surgeon General's award as the outstanding student of his medical-school class.
Dr. Schuessler remained with the Baylor University Hospital System for his internship and surgical residency. Following this, he spent four years in training under Dr. James Mills, Dallas' first plastic surgeon. Part of the arrangement was that Dr. Schuessler would do all the night work. Therefore it was he who responded to a call regarding a victim of an automobile accident who had a badly injured nose. The nose in question belonged to a Southern Methodist University graduate who was also a beautiful model. She was accompanied by a very concerned mother. When Dr. Schuessler showed up on the scene, the mother rather testily told him that the plastic surgeon had already been called. Dr. Schuessler replied, "I am the plastic surgeon." The mother's reply: "You don't look old enough even to be an intern." But to Louise, the patient, the surgeon's youthfulness didn't seem to be a problem. During the weeks that followed, Dr. Schuessler's interest became something more than the usual physician-patient relationship, and by the time of her last scheduled visit, Dr. Schuessler mentioned some tickets that he had to a dance at the beautiful Adolphus Hotel ballroom. However, he added that any girl who went with him to the dance would probably have to go home in a taxi. "Well, what's wrong with that?" replied Louise. In November of this year, Willard and Louise Schuessler will celebrate fifty years of marriage. On hand for the festivities will be their three children and their two grandchildren.
Dr. Schuessler's military career began just one week following his marriage to Louise. He was called into active service for one year to head up the Plastic Surgery Service at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio. He later became Chief of Plastic Surgery at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., before he came to William Beaumont Medical Center as Chief of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1944. When he left the Army in 1946 as a colonel, the one year for which he had originally been called had stretched into six years.
Dr. Schuessler's military experience in World War II was obviously quite satisfying because he continued to be involved with the military. He remained a consultant at William Beaumont Army Hospital for twelve years, and was a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. For these and many other services, he has received at least ten major awards, including the Patriotic Service Award, bestowed by the Secretary of the Army.
In reviewing Dr. Schuessler's many activities, I have come to the conclusion that as a little boy, Willard probably really wanted to be a policeman. He has been an active member of at least seven groups related to law enforcement—including being an honorary Texas Ranger, a United States Deputy Marshal, and an officer of Crime Stoppers (this latter position being one he still holds).
Among the people I have talked to about Dr. Schuessler is John Phelan, longtime El Paso radio and television personality. John came as a patient to William Beaumont Army Hospital because he had been severely burned in Germany during World War II. Multiple surgical procedures requiring several months were necessary, and he and Dr. Schuessler became warm friends. John credits Dr. Schuessler with having been a significant factor in his life not only because of the successful surgery, but also because Willard encouraged him to get out into the community and go to college. John started off with a course in radio at Texas Western College of Mines and Metallurgy, and Willard let John use his dictaphone to practice "broadcasting." Then Willard critiqued the young man's technique.
Before long John was working as night man at KTSM radio station. One night, John included in his broadcast the announcement of Dr. Willard Schuessler's change from military to civilian status and that he was about to begin his practice in El Paso. Because of his gratitude and friendship, John spoke of Dr. Schuessler's outstanding surgical skills and encouraged everyone to support him in his new practice.
This was at a time when organized medicine took a very dim view of anything that even sounded like advertising and, of course, this did sound very much like advertising. The fathers of the El Paso County Medical Society were still pondering Willard's suitability for membership when some of Willard's friends gave the Schuesslers a party to celebrate their entrance into civilian life. The high point of the festivity was the release of a large number of helium-filled balloons. This was done with great fanfare, and only after the balloons were gaily floating skyward was Willard told that each balloon contained a coupon which entitled the bearer to one free facelift. This may not have been a factor, but we do know that Dr. Schuessler never did facelifts or any other type of cosmetic surgery.
In spite of all this "help," Willard was accepted into membership in the Medical Society, which he later served as its president. In 1985, the Medical Society instituted the S. T. Turner Award, which is patterned after the Historical Society Hall of Honor. One deceased physician and one living physician are chosen annually to receive this award, the Society's highest honor. And who was the first living recipient of this award? Dr. Willard W. Schuessler, of course.
His many activities in organized medicine included being Chief of Staff at Southwestern General Hospital. He has served also on the staff of twelve other Texas hospitals, including the Texas Crippled Children's Hospital; and he was cited by New Mexico Governor Garrey E. Carruthers for his outstanding contributions to the crippled children of New Mexico. Further, Dr. Schuessler served twice as the president of District One Medical Society of the Texas Medical Association, and he was president of the Southwestern Medical Association and a founding member of the Southwest Surgical Society.
Dr. Schuessler's interests have not been confined to medicine. He has actively participated in community affairs. He was elected and served with distinction as Alderman of the City of El Paso. He has served on many committees devoted to improving the quality of life for the citizens of El Paso. As an example, he and René Mascareñas, a civic leader and industrialist in Juárez, formed the Inter-City Group composed of civic and business leaders of Juárez and El Paso. This group quietly oils the troubled waters to prevent small irritations from becoming large problems. The Cordova Bridge, as an example, could never have been built but for the work of this group. Dr. Schuessler has also been involved in the Rotary Club of El Paso, the Army YMCA, the Border Patrol Museum and Library, the El Paso Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Del Norte Club. Further, he has served as president of the Sun Carnival Association and as president of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce.
During his presidency of the Chamber of Commerce, his wife chaired the Woman's Department of the Chamber. The Schuesslers had been in El Paso only a few years, but already Louise had become fascinated with the history of the region. She decided that her project would be to establish an organization to preserve that history. This organization is now called the El Paso County Historical Society. In 1979, Louise was inducted into the Society's Hall of Honor; and now, with Willard's induction, they are the only couple to have been so honored.
Dr. Schuessler's contributions have not gone unnoticed or unrecognized. Among the many honors he has received for community service are the Conquistador Award, the highest award given by the City of El Paso, and the El Paso Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit. Recently he was honored by El Paso Senior Opportunities and Services as a recipient of the Mentor of Today Award. In 1956, when he was really just beginning his pursuit of service to others, Southern Methodist University conferred upon him its Outstanding Alumnus Award. He has also been honored as
WILLARD WARREN SCHUESSLER, M.D.
(Photograph by Elson-Alexandre, Los Angeles, California; Chicago/Honolulu/Tokyo)
Gordon L. Black, M.D., has practiced medicine in El Paso since 1940. Currently he is Chief of the Radiology Department at Providence Memorial Hospital and also Medical Director at the El Paso Cancer Treatment Center.
Hall of Honor 1990
Recipient of the Humanitarian Award of the National Jewish Hospital and Research Center in Denver.
The Historical Society's charge to the Selection Committee is to choose for induction into its Hall of Honor "Outstanding Men and Women of character, vision, courage, and creative spirit... who have made El Paso County better for their having lived in it... and who... by their singular achievements have brought honor and recognition to the El Paso community." A most welcome and deserving addition to the prestigious list of names which grace the El Paso County Historical Society Hall of Honor is that of Dr. Willard Warren Schuessler.
Hall of Honor
The El Paso County Historical Society
1961 James Wiley Magoffin
Lawrence Milton Lawson
1962 Richard Fenner Burges
Maud Durlin Sullivan
Rev. B. M. G. Williams
1963 Eugenia Schuster
Robert Ewing Thomason
1964 Allen H. Hughey, Sr.
Mrs. W. D. Howe
1965 Ernest Ulrich Krause
Lucinda de Leftwich Templin
1966 Charles Robert Morehead
Maurice Schwartz
1967 Robert E. McKee
Chris P. Fox
1968 Zachariah T. White
Jack Caruthers Vowell
1969 James Augustus Smith
Jean Carl Hertzog
1970 Haymon Krupp
Eugene O. Porter
1971 Hugh Spotswood White
Charles Leland Sonnichsen
1972 Olga Bernstein Kohlberg
Joseph F. Friedkin
1973 Juan Siqueiros Hart
Judson F. Williams
1974 Joseph Magoffin
José Cisneros
1975 James Price Hague
Tom Lea
1976 Mrs. Otto Norwald
Fred Hervey
1977 Cleofas Calleros
Msgr. Henry Buchanan
1978 Robert R. Jones
Edward W. Rheinheimer, M.D.
1979 Thornton Hardie
Louise Johnson Schuessler
1980 Henry Thomas Ponsford
J. M. Hanks
1981 Henry C. Trost
Abraham Chavez, Jr.
1982 William M. Yandell, M.D.
Margaret Schuster Meyer
1983 Felix Martinez
Elizabeth Hooks Kelly
1984 Brigadier Gen. Anson Mills
Manuel Gregorio Acosta
1985 William H. Burges
William I. Latham
1986 Mrs. Guy Hallett Johnson
Karl O. Wyler
1987 Dorrance D. Roderick
Gertrude Goodman
1988 Jeanie M. Frank
Thomas J. Beall
Millard G. McKinney
1989 Brigadier Gen. S. L. A. Marshall
D. Harold Wiggs, Sr.
1990 William Henry Fryer
Willard W. Schuessler, M.D.
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