Spirit of America 2014 nominee: Dr. John Holcomb

Nominated by Cape River Heritage Museum

2014 Spirit of America nominee, John Holcomb. (Laura Simon)

The Cape River Heritage Museum is proud to nominate Dr. John K. Holcomb for the prestigious Spirit of America award.

Dr. John K. Holcomb demonstrates the Spirit of America as a family man, a veteran of the United States Navy during the Korean War, a beloved physician, and a lifetime booster of his hometown of Cape Girardeau.

From 1951 to 1953 he served as a radar operator on a carrier-based aircraft that patrolled the East Coast of the United States for Russian submarines.

He married Judith Hanschen of Flat River, Missouri, in 1959, and the couple has three children (Lisa Cameron, David Holcomb and Douglas Holcomb), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

After completing his undergraduate education at Southeast Missouri State University, he earned a medical degree from the University of Missouri in 1960. Throughout his medical career, he participated actively in public service. From 1962 to 2013 he served as a consultant to Missouri State Vocation Rehabilitation Services. In 1964 he helped organize community-wide polio vaccine distribution in Cape Girardeau. In 1966 and 1967 he was editor of the Cape County Medical Society Journal. A board certified family practitioner, he served as president of the Cape Girardeau Area Medical Society in 1977.

In 1980 and 1981 he was president of Saint Francis Medical Center medical staff, and in 1993 and 1994 he was medical director of Saint Francis Home Health Services. In 1993 he traveled on a medical mission to Tver, Russia, to help physicians transition from a community regime to private practice. He has won numerous awards, including the Community Service and Citizenship from the Missouri State Medical Association (1998), and he continues to serve as a leader in many local organizations, including Cape River Heritage Museum.

Community involvement:

* Charter member of Southeast Missouri State University's Copper Dome Society, booster board of directors, 1972 to present.

* Southeast Missouri State University, team and school physician for pre-med students, 1962 to 1992.

* United Way Board of Directors, 1993 to 1999; president, 1999.

* Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors, 1999 to 2005.

* Cape Special Road District commissioner, 1993 to 2005.

* Lions Club, 1961 to present; president, 1989 to 1990.

* Cape Jaycees and Chamber of Commerce, past member.

* St. Andrew Lutheran Church, served as elder, Stephen minister, and member of the board of directors.

* Nell Holcomb School Foundation, president of board of directors, 2000 to 2013.

* Cape River Heritage Museum Board of Directors, 2000 to present; president, 2010 to present.

* American Cancer Society, volunteer for transporting cancer patients to medical appointments.