(September 30, 1913 - January 27, 2014)

William Alfred Altman, M.D. was born in Sherman, Texas on September 30, 1913 and died in Dallas on January 27, 2014. He graduated from Sherman High School in 1931; Rice University in 1935; and Harvard Medical School in 1939. After an internship at John Sealy Hospital, Galveston, Texas in 1940, he served a three year Fellowship in Surgery at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He entered Surgery practice at Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas in 1943 where he remained until retirement in 1977. He organized and directed the surgical training program at Methodist Hospital from 1946 to 1959. He served as Chief of General Surgery and Chief of Surgery. He was the last surviving charter member of the Dallas Society of General Surgeons organized in 1946.

He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hardwicke-Etter Company, manufacturers of cotton gin equipment in Sherman, Texas from 1955 to 1968 when the company was sold.

He was an instrument rated private pilot and flew over 2,000 hours for business and pleasure without incident.

He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth Hemmerdinger Altman in 1988.

Survivors are: a son, William Henry Altman; daughter and son-in-law, Honey and Robert Minshew of Sherman; grandson, Marshall Minshew; granddaughter and husband, Monica and Kent Cowsert of Dallas; and great grandchildren, Emma and Henry.

Founded the William and Ruth Hemmerdinger Altman Scholarship Fund at Rice University in Houston, Texas and at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

At his request, burial will be in Sherman without a memorial service.

(September 30, 1913 - January 27, 2014)

William Alfred Altman, M.D. was born in Sherman, Texas on September 30, 1913 and died in Dallas on January 27, 2014. He graduated from Sherman High School in 1931; Rice University in 1935; and Harvard Medical School in 1939. After an internship at John Sealy Hospital, Galveston, Texas in 1940, he served a three year Fellowship in Surgery at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He entered Surgery practice at Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas in 1943 where he remained until retirement in 1977. He organized and directed the surgical training program at Methodist Hospital from 1946 to 1959. He served as Chief of General Surgery and Chief of Surgery. He was the last surviving charter member of the Dallas Society of General Surgeons organized in 1946.

He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hardwicke-Etter Company, manufacturers of cotton gin equipment in Sherman, Texas from 1955 to 1968 when the company was sold.

He was an instrument rated private pilot and flew over 2,000 hours for business and pleasure without incident.

He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth Hemmerdinger Altman in 1988.

Survivors are: a son, William Henry Altman; daughter and son-in-law, Honey and Robert Minshew of Sherman; grandson, Marshall Minshew; granddaughter and husband, Monica and Kent Cowsert of Dallas; and great grandchildren, Emma and Henry.

Founded the William and Ruth Hemmerdinger Altman Scholarship Fund at Rice University in Houston, Texas and at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

At his request, burial will be in Sherman without a memorial service.