On March 3, 1924 in Moore, Texas, Douglas Mac Benold was born in the Methodist parsonage there, and it was going to be a difficult and potentially dangerous birth since he was presenting breech (feet first). The only doctor in the little town made the decision to miss his own mother's funeral to stay with Nelie Benold to do all he could to bring the baby into the world safely. Little did he know at the time that that little baby boy would grow up to be the same kind of doctor as he…one who went above and beyond to care for his patients regardless of whether they could pay, whether or not it was inconvenient, or whether it was expected. He was the epitome of a dedicated family doctor.
Throughout his life, Doug always seemed heroic in a quiet and loving sort of way. Once, on his way to deliver a baby at the old hospital on East University Avenue (then 12th Street), he was stopped by a slowly moving train on the tracks. He pulled over and parked his car on the street, jumped between two of the train cars and sprinted to the hospital to arrive in time to catch that baby!
He often drove as far as Burnet, Texas on house calls to see patients, some of whom could not pay. He went out in ice storms to see sick people in their homes, delivered over 3000 babies, many of them in their homes because they could not afford the hospital.
The doctor in Moore, Texas would have been proud.
Douglas was the youngest of seven children born to The Reverend O. W. Benold and Nelie Benold. His father was a Methodist minister in the Southwest Texas Conference. As Methodist ministers did back then, the family moved every two years or so, and so Doug grew up all over the Texas Hill Country in towns such as Fredonia, Harwood and big Fredericksburg.
When he was 10 years old, the family moved to Georgetown so his oldest sibling could attend Southwestern University. In those days, all children of Methodist ministers could attend SU tuition-free. All of the Benold kids received their degrees there. They lived on campus in a boarding house that Doug's mother managed, where the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Building is now.The college golf course meandered around through the campus itself, and Doug learned to play golf from the professors who allowed him to tag along with them on the course.
Doug entered the 6th grade at the old Annie Purl Elementary School (at the corner of Austin Avenue and University Avenue) having been "double promoted" in his previous school in Harwood, Texas. He excelled in academics and athletics, running track and playing football, was editor of the high school yearbook and was a class officer. In his senior year at GHS, at age 15, he quarterbacked the Eagles to a winning season, losing only to the Taylor Ducks. He never lost his love for the game of football, preferring high school games (although he also supported the Dallas Cowboys enthusiastically). He graduated GHS with honors and at 16 years of age, entered Southwestern University as a Chemistry major, in 1940.
After finishing his Junior year at SU, he was accepted at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and like every other young man at that war-torn time, at 18 was drafted into the U.S. Army. He joined the Army Reserve Corp in order to be allowed to finish that school year. As soon as he was 19, he was called up and was sent to California for basic training. Because the country was in dire need of doctors, he was allowed to accept his offer to go to medical school and went, in uniform, until he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha (highest honors) in 1945. That year he acted as a groomsman at a friend's wedding in East Texas and there met the bride's 18-year-old sister who was maid of honor. Doug discovered that she would be entering her junior year at Southwestern University and immediately asked to be allowed to "show her the big town" (population 5000 at the time), which he subsequently did, on every occasion he could get home. Thus began a 2-year courtship, largely by letters.
After graduating from medical school, Doug immediately left to begin a rotating internship at Indianapolis General Hospital, and following that, he went to El Paso City-County Hospital for a rotating residency in all phases of General Practice. Soon after that, he and Nell Barnes were married, and their first child, Stephen Douglas Benold, was born in El Paso.
After a year doing General Surgery at the Austin State School, he opened his office on the Square in Georgetown in the back of City Drugstore (now the Georgetown Winery) in 1950 and began his practice of medicine as a family doctor. Daughter Laurie Catherine was born in 1951, and daughter Lynnelle in 1952. He had hardly gotten his practice started when, in 1952, he was called back into the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Korea as a surgeon during that war, serving in field hospitals there. He returned to Georgetown in 1954 and resumed his medical practice.
After completing his two years of service, he came back and re-opened his practice in Georgetown. During these years of training, several of Georgetown's doctors had retired, moved away, or died, and left only two active physicians, so he was immediately busy. Dr. Howell Gaddy owned the little hospital in Georgetown and before long, Doug bought a half interest in it and became longtime friends and partners with Dr. Gaddy. Doug immediately began to try to bring more modern medical practices to Georgetown and he and Dr. Gaddy built Georgetown's medical clinic across the street from the hospital. Realizing that there was a terrible shortage of trained nurses, they established a fine, fully-licensed Licensed Vocational Nursing School that trained skilled LVN's for this area for 20 years. This school was integrated from its onset, years before the public schools integrated.
Doug and Hal were so busy they found a newly-returned doctor who had just finished his Army service in Germany, and hired Dr. James Shepherd as a full partner very soon. The three doctors rapidly built extensions on the clinic for six doctors, built a new, modern wing on the old hospital, established Georgetown's first EMS service—an ambulance stationed at the hospital with whoever was "on call" riding out with the ambulance driver.
With good medical services now available, the small hospital was proving to be inadequate so plans were made to start building a big, new, modern one. The three doctors donated the land, and the small hospital, to the City of Georgetown to be collateral for a federal loan to start the fund, and with the help financially of all three doctors plus the entire community, the hospital was built! Land was also donated by the doctors for the big campus, including a Cancer Treatment Center, parking garage, etc. on the southwest bank of the San Gabriel River. They also built a bigger, newer clinic across the street from the new hospital and added more doctors.
Georgetown's schools were in dire straits due to poor financial conditions so Doug ran for school board, was elected and immediately became president during difficult times there. In part because of this service to the school district, Benold Middle School was named for him years later. He served for 14 1/2 years on the school board while also chairing the First United Methodist Administrative Board, the Williamson County Medical Society Board, the Lion's Club and serving on three building programs at FUMC. He was a founding board member for the Wesleyan Homes in 1963 and served as Medical Director there for many years.
A lifelong Methodist, he served his church faithfully, having joined the church when he was ten years old in 1934. At his death he was FUMC's longest serving member. During those 89 years he served in many positions, from being a janitor as a boy to Chair of the Administrative Board, and nearly every other responsible position, receiving an award from the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Church as "Outstanding Layman." He was also honored by the City of Georgetown for his 30 years of service as City Health Officer, and was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, along with many other honors.
Doug loved Southwestern University, his alma mater, where he received his B.S. degree, cum laude. He served on the SU Board of Trustees for 15 years, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings and their spouses, a niece Barby Keel, and daughter-in-law Stephanie Hester Benold.
He is survived by his wife of 74 1/2 years, Nell; his four children Stephen Douglas Benold and wife Nancy, Laurie Catherine Locke, Lynnelle Boyd and husband Johnny, and Terrell Barnes Benold and wife Lori.
He is the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The family asks that any memorials be donated to The Wesleyan Homes Benevolent Fund, the First United Methodist Church Foundation, Southwestern University's scholarship funds that bear his name, or any of the many charities that aid people in need.
Doug's entire life has been one of service to this area, and he surely made this little part of our world a much better place. His loving countenance, his optimist outlook, and his kindness and generosity to all will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
The funeral service for Dr. Benold will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at First United Methodist Church.
Dr. Benold will have a private family service when he is laid to rest at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown.
Throughout his life, Doug always seemed heroic in a quiet and loving sort of way. Once, on his way to deliver a baby at the old hospital on East University Avenue (then 12th Street), he was stopped by a slowly moving train on the tracks. He pulled over and parked his car on the street, jumped between two of the train cars and sprinted to the hospital to arrive in time to catch that baby!
He often drove as far as Burnet, Texas on house calls to see patients, some of whom could not pay. He went out in ice storms to see sick people in their homes, delivered over 3000 babies, many of them in their homes because they could not afford the hospital.
The doctor in Moore, Texas would have been proud.
Douglas was the youngest of seven children born to The Reverend O. W. Benold and Nelie Benold. His father was a Methodist minister in the Southwest Texas Conference. As Methodist ministers did back then, the family moved every two years or so, and so Doug grew up all over the Texas Hill Country in towns such as Fredonia, Harwood and big Fredericksburg.
When he was 10 years old, the family moved to Georgetown so his oldest sibling could attend Southwestern University. In those days, all children of Methodist ministers could attend SU tuition-free. All of the Benold kids received their degrees there. They lived on campus in a boarding house that Doug's mother managed, where the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Building is now.The college golf course meandered around through the campus itself, and Doug learned to play golf from the professors who allowed him to tag along with them on the course.
Doug entered the 6th grade at the old Annie Purl Elementary School (at the corner of Austin Avenue and University Avenue) having been "double promoted" in his previous school in Harwood, Texas. He excelled in academics and athletics, running track and playing football, was editor of the high school yearbook and was a class officer. In his senior year at GHS, at age 15, he quarterbacked the Eagles to a winning season, losing only to the Taylor Ducks. He never lost his love for the game of football, preferring high school games (although he also supported the Dallas Cowboys enthusiastically). He graduated GHS with honors and at 16 years of age, entered Southwestern University as a Chemistry major, in 1940.
After finishing his Junior year at SU, he was accepted at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and like every other young man at that war-torn time, at 18 was drafted into the U.S. Army. He joined the Army Reserve Corp in order to be allowed to finish that school year. As soon as he was 19, he was called up and was sent to California for basic training. Because the country was in dire need of doctors, he was allowed to accept his offer to go to medical school and went, in uniform, until he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha (highest honors) in 1945. That year he acted as a groomsman at a friend's wedding in East Texas and there met the bride's 18-year-old sister who was maid of honor. Doug discovered that she would be entering her junior year at Southwestern University and immediately asked to be allowed to "show her the big town" (population 5000 at the time), which he subsequently did, on every occasion he could get home. Thus began a 2-year courtship, largely by letters.
After graduating from medical school, Doug immediately left to begin a rotating internship at Indianapolis General Hospital, and following that, he went to El Paso City-County Hospital for a rotating residency in all phases of General Practice. Soon after that, he and Nell Barnes were married, and their first child, Stephen Douglas Benold, was born in El Paso.
After a year doing General Surgery at the Austin State School, he opened his office on the Square in Georgetown in the back of City Drugstore (now the Georgetown Winery) in 1950 and began his practice of medicine as a family doctor. Daughter Laurie Catherine was born in 1951, and daughter Lynnelle in 1952. He had hardly gotten his practice started when, in 1952, he was called back into the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Korea as a surgeon during that war, serving in field hospitals there. He returned to Georgetown in 1954 and resumed his medical practice.
After completing his two years of service, he came back and re-opened his practice in Georgetown. During these years of training, several of Georgetown's doctors had retired, moved away, or died, and left only two active physicians, so he was immediately busy. Dr. Howell Gaddy owned the little hospital in Georgetown and before long, Doug bought a half interest in it and became longtime friends and partners with Dr. Gaddy. Doug immediately began to try to bring more modern medical practices to Georgetown and he and Dr. Gaddy built Georgetown's medical clinic across the street from the hospital. Realizing that there was a terrible shortage of trained nurses, they established a fine, fully-licensed Licensed Vocational Nursing School that trained skilled LVN's for this area for 20 years. This school was integrated from its onset, years before the public schools integrated.
Doug and Hal were so busy they found a newly-returned doctor who had just finished his Army service in Germany, and hired Dr. James Shepherd as a full partner very soon. The three doctors rapidly built extensions on the clinic for six doctors, built a new, modern wing on the old hospital, established Georgetown's first EMS service—an ambulance stationed at the hospital with whoever was "on call" riding out with the ambulance driver.
With good medical services now available, the small hospital was proving to be inadequate so plans were made to start building a big, new, modern one. The three doctors donated the land, and the small hospital, to the City of Georgetown to be collateral for a federal loan to start the fund, and with the help financially of all three doctors plus the entire community, the hospital was built! Land was also donated by the doctors for the big campus, including a Cancer Treatment Center, parking garage, etc. on the southwest bank of the San Gabriel River. They also built a bigger, newer clinic across the street from the new hospital and added more doctors.
Georgetown's schools were in dire straits due to poor financial conditions so Doug ran for school board, was elected and immediately became president during difficult times there. In part because of this service to the school district, Benold Middle School was named for him years later. He served for 14 1/2 years on the school board while also chairing the First United Methodist Administrative Board, the Williamson County Medical Society Board, the Lion's Club and serving on three building programs at FUMC. He was a founding board member for the Wesleyan Homes in 1963 and served as Medical Director there for many years.
A lifelong Methodist, he served his church faithfully, having joined the church when he was ten years old in 1934. At his death he was FUMC's longest serving member. During those 89 years he served in many positions, from being a janitor as a boy to Chair of the Administrative Board, and nearly every other responsible position, receiving an award from the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Church as "Outstanding Layman." He was also honored by the City of Georgetown for his 30 years of service as City Health Officer, and was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, along with many other honors.
Doug loved Southwestern University, his alma mater, where he received his B.S. degree, cum laude. He served on the SU Board of Trustees for 15 years, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings and their spouses, a niece Barby Keel, and daughter-in-law Stephanie Hester Benold.
He is survived by his wife of 74 1/2 years, Nell; his four children Stephen Douglas Benold and wife Nancy, Laurie Catherine Locke, Lynnelle Boyd and husband Johnny, and Terrell Barnes Benold and wife Lori.
He is the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The family asks that any memorials be donated to The Wesleyan Homes Benevolent Fund, the First United Methodist Church Foundation, Southwestern University's scholarship funds that bear his name, or any of the many charities that aid people in need.
Doug's entire life has been one of service to this area, and he surely made this little part of our world a much better place. His loving countenance, his optimist outlook, and his kindness and generosity to all will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
The funeral service for Dr. Benold will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at First United Methodist Church.
Dr. Benold will have a private family service when he is laid to rest at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown.
On March 3, 1924 in Moore, Texas, Douglas Mac Benold was born in the Methodist parsonage there, and it was going to be a difficult and potentially dangerous birth since he was presenting breech (feet first). The only doctor in the little town made the decision to miss his own mother's funeral to stay with Nelie Benold to do all he could to bring the baby into the world safely. Little did he know at the time that that little baby boy would grow up to be the same kind of doctor as he…one who went above and beyond to care for his patients regardless of whether they could pay, whether or not it was inconvenient, or whether it was expected. He was the epitome of a dedicated family doctor.
Throughout his life, Doug always seemed heroic in a quiet and loving sort of way. Once, on his way to deliver a baby at the old hospital on East University Avenue (then 12th Street), he was stopped by a slowly moving train on the tracks. He pulled over and parked his car on the street, jumped between two of the train cars and sprinted to the hospital to arrive in time to catch that baby!
He often drove as far as Burnet, Texas on house calls to see patients, some of whom could not pay. He went out in ice storms to see sick people in their homes, delivered over 3000 babies, many of them in their homes because they could not afford the hospital.
The doctor in Moore, Texas would have been proud.
Douglas was the youngest of seven children born to The Reverend O. W. Benold and Nelie Benold. His father was a Methodist minister in the Southwest Texas Conference. As Methodist ministers did back then, the family moved every two years or so, and so Doug grew up all over the Texas Hill Country in towns such as Fredonia, Harwood and big Fredericksburg.
When he was 10 years old, the family moved to Georgetown so his oldest sibling could attend Southwestern University. In those days, all children of Methodist ministers could attend SU tuition-free. All of the Benold kids received their degrees there. They lived on campus in a boarding house that Doug's mother managed, where the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Building is now.The college golf course meandered around through the campus itself, and Doug learned to play golf from the professors who allowed him to tag along with them on the course.
Doug entered the 6th grade at the old Annie Purl Elementary School (at the corner of Austin Avenue and University Avenue) having been "double promoted" in his previous school in Harwood, Texas. He excelled in academics and athletics, running track and playing football, was editor of the high school yearbook and was a class officer. In his senior year at GHS, at age 15, he quarterbacked the Eagles to a winning season, losing only to the Taylor Ducks. He never lost his love for the game of football, preferring high school games (although he also supported the Dallas Cowboys enthusiastically). He graduated GHS with honors and at 16 years of age, entered Southwestern University as a Chemistry major, in 1940.
After finishing his Junior year at SU, he was accepted at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and like every other young man at that war-torn time, at 18 was drafted into the U.S. Army. He joined the Army Reserve Corp in order to be allowed to finish that school year. As soon as he was 19, he was called up and was sent to California for basic training. Because the country was in dire need of doctors, he was allowed to accept his offer to go to medical school and went, in uniform, until he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha (highest honors) in 1945. That year he acted as a groomsman at a friend's wedding in East Texas and there met the bride's 18-year-old sister who was maid of honor. Doug discovered that she would be entering her junior year at Southwestern University and immediately asked to be allowed to "show her the big town" (population 5000 at the time), which he subsequently did, on every occasion he could get home. Thus began a 2-year courtship, largely by letters.
After graduating from medical school, Doug immediately left to begin a rotating internship at Indianapolis General Hospital, and following that, he went to El Paso City-County Hospital for a rotating residency in all phases of General Practice. Soon after that, he and Nell Barnes were married, and their first child, Stephen Douglas Benold, was born in El Paso.
After a year doing General Surgery at the Austin State School, he opened his office on the Square in Georgetown in the back of City Drugstore (now the Georgetown Winery) in 1950 and began his practice of medicine as a family doctor. Daughter Laurie Catherine was born in 1951, and daughter Lynnelle in 1952. He had hardly gotten his practice started when, in 1952, he was called back into the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Korea as a surgeon during that war, serving in field hospitals there. He returned to Georgetown in 1954 and resumed his medical practice.
After completing his two years of service, he came back and re-opened his practice in Georgetown. During these years of training, several of Georgetown's doctors had retired, moved away, or died, and left only two active physicians, so he was immediately busy. Dr. Howell Gaddy owned the little hospital in Georgetown and before long, Doug bought a half interest in it and became longtime friends and partners with Dr. Gaddy. Doug immediately began to try to bring more modern medical practices to Georgetown and he and Dr. Gaddy built Georgetown's medical clinic across the street from the hospital. Realizing that there was a terrible shortage of trained nurses, they established a fine, fully-licensed Licensed Vocational Nursing School that trained skilled LVN's for this area for 20 years. This school was integrated from its onset, years before the public schools integrated.
Doug and Hal were so busy they found a newly-returned doctor who had just finished his Army service in Germany, and hired Dr. James Shepherd as a full partner very soon. The three doctors rapidly built extensions on the clinic for six doctors, built a new, modern wing on the old hospital, established Georgetown's first EMS service—an ambulance stationed at the hospital with whoever was "on call" riding out with the ambulance driver.
With good medical services now available, the small hospital was proving to be inadequate so plans were made to start building a big, new, modern one. The three doctors donated the land, and the small hospital, to the City of Georgetown to be collateral for a federal loan to start the fund, and with the help financially of all three doctors plus the entire community, the hospital was built! Land was also donated by the doctors for the big campus, including a Cancer Treatment Center, parking garage, etc. on the southwest bank of the San Gabriel River. They also built a bigger, newer clinic across the street from the new hospital and added more doctors.
Georgetown's schools were in dire straits due to poor financial conditions so Doug ran for school board, was elected and immediately became president during difficult times there. In part because of this service to the school district, Benold Middle School was named for him years later. He served for 14 1/2 years on the school board while also chairing the First United Methodist Administrative Board, the Williamson County Medical Society Board, the Lion's Club and serving on three building programs at FUMC. He was a founding board member for the Wesleyan Homes in 1963 and served as Medical Director there for many years.
A lifelong Methodist, he served his church faithfully, having joined the church when he was ten years old in 1934. At his death he was FUMC's longest serving member. During those 89 years he served in many positions, from being a janitor as a boy to Chair of the Administrative Board, and nearly every other responsible position, receiving an award from the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Church as "Outstanding Layman." He was also honored by the City of Georgetown for his 30 years of service as City Health Officer, and was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, along with many other honors.
Doug loved Southwestern University, his alma mater, where he received his B.S. degree, cum laude. He served on the SU Board of Trustees for 15 years, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings and their spouses, a niece Barby Keel, and daughter-in-law Stephanie Hester Benold.
He is survived by his wife of 74 1/2 years, Nell; his four children Stephen Douglas Benold and wife Nancy, Laurie Catherine Locke, Lynnelle Boyd and husband Johnny, and Terrell Barnes Benold and wife Lori.
He is the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The family asks that any memorials be donated to The Wesleyan Homes Benevolent Fund, the First United Methodist Church Foundation, Southwestern University's scholarship funds that bear his name, or any of the many charities that aid people in need.
Doug's entire life has been one of service to this area, and he surely made this little part of our world a much better place. His loving countenance, his optimist outlook, and his kindness and generosity to all will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
The funeral service for Dr. Benold will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at First United Methodist Church.
Dr. Benold will have a private family service when he is laid to rest at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown.
Throughout his life, Doug always seemed heroic in a quiet and loving sort of way. Once, on his way to deliver a baby at the old hospital on East University Avenue (then 12th Street), he was stopped by a slowly moving train on the tracks. He pulled over and parked his car on the street, jumped between two of the train cars and sprinted to the hospital to arrive in time to catch that baby!
He often drove as far as Burnet, Texas on house calls to see patients, some of whom could not pay. He went out in ice storms to see sick people in their homes, delivered over 3000 babies, many of them in their homes because they could not afford the hospital.
The doctor in Moore, Texas would have been proud.
Douglas was the youngest of seven children born to The Reverend O. W. Benold and Nelie Benold. His father was a Methodist minister in the Southwest Texas Conference. As Methodist ministers did back then, the family moved every two years or so, and so Doug grew up all over the Texas Hill Country in towns such as Fredonia, Harwood and big Fredericksburg.
When he was 10 years old, the family moved to Georgetown so his oldest sibling could attend Southwestern University. In those days, all children of Methodist ministers could attend SU tuition-free. All of the Benold kids received their degrees there. They lived on campus in a boarding house that Doug's mother managed, where the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Building is now.The college golf course meandered around through the campus itself, and Doug learned to play golf from the professors who allowed him to tag along with them on the course.
Doug entered the 6th grade at the old Annie Purl Elementary School (at the corner of Austin Avenue and University Avenue) having been "double promoted" in his previous school in Harwood, Texas. He excelled in academics and athletics, running track and playing football, was editor of the high school yearbook and was a class officer. In his senior year at GHS, at age 15, he quarterbacked the Eagles to a winning season, losing only to the Taylor Ducks. He never lost his love for the game of football, preferring high school games (although he also supported the Dallas Cowboys enthusiastically). He graduated GHS with honors and at 16 years of age, entered Southwestern University as a Chemistry major, in 1940.
After finishing his Junior year at SU, he was accepted at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and like every other young man at that war-torn time, at 18 was drafted into the U.S. Army. He joined the Army Reserve Corp in order to be allowed to finish that school year. As soon as he was 19, he was called up and was sent to California for basic training. Because the country was in dire need of doctors, he was allowed to accept his offer to go to medical school and went, in uniform, until he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha (highest honors) in 1945. That year he acted as a groomsman at a friend's wedding in East Texas and there met the bride's 18-year-old sister who was maid of honor. Doug discovered that she would be entering her junior year at Southwestern University and immediately asked to be allowed to "show her the big town" (population 5000 at the time), which he subsequently did, on every occasion he could get home. Thus began a 2-year courtship, largely by letters.
After graduating from medical school, Doug immediately left to begin a rotating internship at Indianapolis General Hospital, and following that, he went to El Paso City-County Hospital for a rotating residency in all phases of General Practice. Soon after that, he and Nell Barnes were married, and their first child, Stephen Douglas Benold, was born in El Paso.
After a year doing General Surgery at the Austin State School, he opened his office on the Square in Georgetown in the back of City Drugstore (now the Georgetown Winery) in 1950 and began his practice of medicine as a family doctor. Daughter Laurie Catherine was born in 1951, and daughter Lynnelle in 1952. He had hardly gotten his practice started when, in 1952, he was called back into the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Korea as a surgeon during that war, serving in field hospitals there. He returned to Georgetown in 1954 and resumed his medical practice.
After completing his two years of service, he came back and re-opened his practice in Georgetown. During these years of training, several of Georgetown's doctors had retired, moved away, or died, and left only two active physicians, so he was immediately busy. Dr. Howell Gaddy owned the little hospital in Georgetown and before long, Doug bought a half interest in it and became longtime friends and partners with Dr. Gaddy. Doug immediately began to try to bring more modern medical practices to Georgetown and he and Dr. Gaddy built Georgetown's medical clinic across the street from the hospital. Realizing that there was a terrible shortage of trained nurses, they established a fine, fully-licensed Licensed Vocational Nursing School that trained skilled LVN's for this area for 20 years. This school was integrated from its onset, years before the public schools integrated.
Doug and Hal were so busy they found a newly-returned doctor who had just finished his Army service in Germany, and hired Dr. James Shepherd as a full partner very soon. The three doctors rapidly built extensions on the clinic for six doctors, built a new, modern wing on the old hospital, established Georgetown's first EMS service—an ambulance stationed at the hospital with whoever was "on call" riding out with the ambulance driver.
With good medical services now available, the small hospital was proving to be inadequate so plans were made to start building a big, new, modern one. The three doctors donated the land, and the small hospital, to the City of Georgetown to be collateral for a federal loan to start the fund, and with the help financially of all three doctors plus the entire community, the hospital was built! Land was also donated by the doctors for the big campus, including a Cancer Treatment Center, parking garage, etc. on the southwest bank of the San Gabriel River. They also built a bigger, newer clinic across the street from the new hospital and added more doctors.
Georgetown's schools were in dire straits due to poor financial conditions so Doug ran for school board, was elected and immediately became president during difficult times there. In part because of this service to the school district, Benold Middle School was named for him years later. He served for 14 1/2 years on the school board while also chairing the First United Methodist Administrative Board, the Williamson County Medical Society Board, the Lion's Club and serving on three building programs at FUMC. He was a founding board member for the Wesleyan Homes in 1963 and served as Medical Director there for many years.
A lifelong Methodist, he served his church faithfully, having joined the church when he was ten years old in 1934. At his death he was FUMC's longest serving member. During those 89 years he served in many positions, from being a janitor as a boy to Chair of the Administrative Board, and nearly every other responsible position, receiving an award from the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Church as "Outstanding Layman." He was also honored by the City of Georgetown for his 30 years of service as City Health Officer, and was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, along with many other honors.
Doug loved Southwestern University, his alma mater, where he received his B.S. degree, cum laude. He served on the SU Board of Trustees for 15 years, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings and their spouses, a niece Barby Keel, and daughter-in-law Stephanie Hester Benold.
He is survived by his wife of 74 1/2 years, Nell; his four children Stephen Douglas Benold and wife Nancy, Laurie Catherine Locke, Lynnelle Boyd and husband Johnny, and Terrell Barnes Benold and wife Lori.
He is the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The family asks that any memorials be donated to The Wesleyan Homes Benevolent Fund, the First United Methodist Church Foundation, Southwestern University's scholarship funds that bear his name, or any of the many charities that aid people in need.
Doug's entire life has been one of service to this area, and he surely made this little part of our world a much better place. His loving countenance, his optimist outlook, and his kindness and generosity to all will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
The funeral service for Dr. Benold will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at First United Methodist Church.
Dr. Benold will have a private family service when he is laid to rest at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown.
Inscription
Married
August 14, 1948
Gravesite Details
Double grave marker with room for spouse, Nell, to his right.
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