DR. JOHN HOLCOMB GETS AWARD FOR CITIZENSHIP, SERVICE

A longtime Cape Girardeau physician has been named the winner of the Missouri State Medical Association's Award for Citizenship and Community Service.

Dr. John K. Holcomb recently received the award in a special ceremony at St. Louis.

Holcomb retired from full-time practice in 1992 but stays busy.

"I do some consulting for the state voc-rehab office, and I'm the medical director of the home health services at St. Francis Medical Center," he said.

Holcomb was nominated for the award by the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society. He is a past president of the group.

In his nomination letter, Dr. Gordon Haycraft, president of the county medical society, said, "Dr. Holcomb's dedication, moral principles and commitment to Cape Girardeau and abroad reflect great credit upon himself, our local community and the Missouri State Medical Association."

In 1993, less than a year after his retirement, Holcomb and his wife, Judy, delivered medical supplies to Tver Medical School in Tver, Russia. While there he also was a guest lecturer and clinical service provider.

Holcomb said he and his wife ferried "about four suitcases" full of medical supplies and equipment to Russia on that trip. He said he had to argue with the airline to avoid being charged for the extra luggage and explained that the suitcases were for a philanthropical venture.

The suitcases packed with medical supplies made it to Russia with no problems, Holcomb said, but their luggage was lost.

"We went four or five days without any change of clothes, even though we had all kinds of medication and supplies with us," he said, chuckling.

This summer, the daughter of the interpreter who helped the Holcombs on their Russian trip will be spending the summer in Cape Girardeau. She will be taking several business classes at Southeast Missouri State University before attending law school in Russia.

"It's sort of a nice little spinoff from our trip over there," Holcomb said.

He graduated from the University of Missouri's medical school in 1960, and set up private practice in Cape Girardeau in 1962, where he remained until his retirement.

Holcomb participated in the first area-wide oral polio immunization in 1964. He is active in numerous community organizations, including the Lions Club, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees and St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

He served as a team physician at Southeast Missouri State University for more than 30 years and now serves on the Boosters Club Board of Directors.

Holcomb's "unselfishness and tireless efforts have also contributed greatly to improving the quality of life of Cape's disabled population," Haycraft said, citing Holcomb's service and recognition for his work with the Special Olympics and the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and State Disability Determinations Office.

In 1988, he received the Distinguished Physician Award from the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence.

Holcomb received his bachelor of science degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1956.

He is a veteran of the Korean War and served in the Navy as a radar operator on anti-submarine aircraft. He also served in the Navy Reserve and received a Certificate of Honor from Missouri for service in the war in 1954.