Frank Oliver Seay, MD
Frank Oliver Seay, 90, passed away in his sleep Aug. 26, 2014. He was born October 15, 1923 at 8 a.m. at home in Groesbeck, Texas to Mary Oliver Seay and Lewis Martin Seay Sr. He had an older brother by seven years, Lewis Martin Seay Jr. Frank attended grade school and high school in Groesbeck, where he was salutatorian of his graduating class of 1941 and was awarded the Science Medal. In high school, he played the trumpet in the band all four years and was on the tennis team. Frank was president of his class all four years, as well as yearbook editor for two years.
After high school, Frank attended Baylor University as a pre-med student and was in the Navy college reserve. Doctors were needed during WWII, so the Navy sent him to SMU where Frank met Nancy Louise Weakley, the love of his life, on her first day at SMU at a mixer. He was an upperclassman attending SMU on a three-year program to expedite his advancement to Baylor Medical School in Houston. He went on to attend Baylor Medical School in Houston where he received a B.S in 1945 and then graduated with honors and a medical degree in 1947. He also became a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Frank went to Parkland Hospital Dallas for his internship and residency training, which was interrupted by the Korean War. He was a member of the U.S. Navy reserve and served as a Flight Surgeon. In 1951, he was ordered to the prestigious flight training school in Pensacola, FL, where he trained with Navy jet pilots for two years. From 1951-1953, Frank was a Senior Lieutenant and was ordered to Cecil Field and later to the U.S. Navy Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. Following an honorable discharge granted by President Dwight Eisenhower, he and Nancy returned to Dallas to raise their family.
He had been offered a position in the Southwest Clinic at Medical Arts Hospital prior to being called to serve. In 1954, Frank joined a 12-member multi-specialty group in internal medicine at Southwest Clinic. He remained with the group for 25 years and became medical director for 15 years. During this time, he was president of Medical Arts Hospital twice. He also served on the St. Paul Hospital Board for two years, vice president for one year and became chief of staff in 1973. While the Southwest Clinic was downtown with the Medical Arts Hospital on the top two floors of the same building, the dream was to offer doctors who often had to split their time between an office and several hospitals a new option – offices and a major medical center in one complex. Thus, the beginning of what is now Medical City Dallas Hospital. Frank, and then Southwest Clinic Manager Bob Wright, were chosen to lead the planning effort, and their team designed, constructed and implemented the opening of North Dallas’ first major medical facility. Frank became the first chief of staff of the Hospital in 1974. In 1986, he joined Dallas Diagnostic Association at Medical City. He also served as medical director for the Sun Oil Texas division for 17 years. Frank retired in 1999 in an internal medicine practice after 50 years.
Throughout his life, Frank was an active member of numerous professional and social organizations, including: Dallas County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association, Society of Internal Medicine, Associate Member of the American Pulmonary Association (now the American Lung Association), Dallas Country Club and Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Frank is preceded in death by his parents Mary Oliver Seay and Lewis Martin Seay Sr. who died tragically in a car accident in 1956; older brother Lewis Martin Seay Jr.; and his loving wife of 66 years, Nancy Louise Weakley Seay. He is survived by three children: daughter Diane Seay McNulty, PhD and husband Michael; son Frank Michael Seay; and daughter Sally Seay Kreimborg and husband Bob. Additional survivors include four grandchildren: Brynn Bagot Allday and husband Taylor; Patrick McNulty, Timothy McNulty and wife Linda, MD; and Kate White and husband Nate White PhD; as well as six great-grandchildren: Avery Seay Allday, Angus Stuart Allday, Aidan Sawyer Allday, Elias Patrick McNulty, Bradley Lawrence White and Carolyn Ross McNulty.
A true gentleman and family man, Frank will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives he touched. A private family burial will be held Sunday, August 31, 2014 in Groesbeck, Texas. A celebration of his life will be held Friday, September 5 at 11 a.m. in Cox Chapel at Highland Park United Methodist Church. A reception will follow at Dallas Country Club, 4155 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75205.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association/Dallas
