R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The retirement of Dr. Theodore P. Votteler of Dallas
1-2 brings to a close the distinguished medical career of a highly
1-3 respected physician whose service to this state and to Children's
1-4 Medical Center of Dallas has been truly extraordinary; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Born on August 2, 1927, in Portland, Oregon, Dr.
1-6 Votteler received his bachelor's degree from The University of
1-7 Texas at Austin and obtained his doctorate at Tulane Medical
1-8 School; he married the former Vermelle McCain in 1954, and they are
1-9 the proud parents of two sons, Theodore P. Votteler, Jr., and Todd
1-10 Haydn Votteler; and
1-11 WHEREAS, Affectionately known as the "C. Everett Koop of
1-12 Texas," Dr. Votteler trained under the former United States surgeon
1-13 general; he has enjoyed a fulfilling career that has spanned more
1-14 than five decades at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, where he
1-15 was director of surgery services and director of general surgery
1-16 until 1993 and, since 1980, has served as chairman of the Ethics
1-17 Committee; he has also served on the Children's Board of Directors
1-18 and as a trustee of the Children's Medical Center of Dallas
1-19 Foundation; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Dr. Votteler established the first
1-21 hospital-affiliated pediatric day surgery unit in the United States
1-22 and the first pediatric intensive care unit in Dallas; he also
1-23 separated Dallas's first set of conjoined twins in 1978 and has
1-24 performed surgery or assisted or consulted in 10 cases of conjoined
2-1 twins during his career; and
2-2 WHEREAS, He has trained more than 500 medical
2-3 students/residents and been a mentor for 25 students/residents
2-4 through the pediatric surgery fellowship program at The University
2-5 of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Children's Medical Center
2-6 (UTSMS/Children's); he has also served as a clinical professor and
2-7 as a member of the consulting, visiting teaching, and attending
2-8 staffs at a number of other medical facilities; and
2-9 WHEREAS, Dr. Votteler has been president of the Texas
2-10 Pediatric Surgical Society, president of the Dallas Society of
2-11 General Surgeons, chairman of the surgical section for the Texas
2-12 Medical Association, and the first vice president of the Texas
2-13 Surgical Society; he has belonged to the American College of
2-14 Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Dallas County
2-15 Medical Society, the Texas Pediatric Society, and others too
2-16 numerous to mention; and
2-17 WHEREAS, His impressive record of service earned him
2-18 Children's 1993 Distinguished Service Award and listing in The Best
2-19 Doctors in America; he has written articles for various medical
2-20 publications and is an honorary fellow of the Lubbock Surgical
2-21 Society and the Peruvian Pediatric Surgical Society; and
2-22 WHEREAS, The Tulane Medical Alumni Association presented
2-23 Dr. Votteler with its Lifetime Achievement Award on May 20, 2001,
2-24 and Children's is recognizing his accomplishments by naming the
2-25 hospital's day surgery program and the UTSMS/Children's pediatric
2-26 surgery fellowship in his honor; and
2-27 WHEREAS, Children's Medical Center of Dallas has reaped the
3-1 benefits of Dr. Votteler's hard work and commitment for nearly half
3-2 a century, and his invaluable efforts have had a positive impact on
3-3 countless lives; his notable achievements in the medical field will
3-4 continue to contribute to the well-being of the Dallas community
3-5 and our state for years to come; now, therefore, be it
3-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-7 Legislature hereby congratulate Theodore P. Votteler on the
3-8 occasion of his retirement and extend to him sincere best wishes
3-9 for continued happiness in his future endeavors; and, be it further
3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-11 prepared for Dr. Votteler as an expression of high regard by the
3-12 Texas House of Representatives.
Goolsby
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1242 was adopted by the House on May
25, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House