Harold Matthew Voss, Sr., M.D., FACP

"Harold was born on January 9,1930 in New Orleans and died in Baton Rouge on August 13, 2018.  Harold attended Dufrocq Elementary School, Baton Rouge Junior High and graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1947.  He was Co-Valedictorian at Baton Rouge High and excelled there at football, track and basketball.  He started as a tackle as a freshman when Baton Rouge High won the state championship in 1944.  Harold was also state champion in the shot put and discus.  Harold was also very proud to have attained the level of Eagle Scout and is a member of the Baton Rouge High Hall of Fame. Harold was given an athletic scholarship to LSU by Bernie Moore for football and track.  He played on the freshman football team and then started as a tackle for his sophomore, junior and senior years.  He was also the SEC champion in the shot put, earning seven varsity letters at LSU.  Despite his athletic prowess and accomplishments, he saw his scholarship as a means to an education.  He graduated summa cum laude in Zoology in 1951.  He was proud to have been awarded the outstanding student athlete by both the Baton Rouge High Honor Club and, at LSU, the New Orleans Quarterback Club.  While at LSU, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, Mu Sigma Rho and Omicron Delta Kappa honor fraternities.  He was interviewed and pictured in the book, "Fighting Tigers". Harold then attended LSU Medical School in New Orleans graduating in 1955 where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha honor fraternity for the top tier of graduates. Harold completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at "Big Charity" in New Orleans where he was chief resident for Internal Medicine.  During his residency, Harold met and married Marie Louise Martinez who was working as a state welfare worker after she graduated from Dominican College. After his residency, he became board certified in Internal Medicine.  Harold brought Marie home to practice in Baton Rouge.  Harold was a practicing physician in Baton Rouge from 1959 until he retired on December 31, 1999 to take care of his beloved wife who had become ill. Harold also served as a clinical assistant professor of LSU Medical School for residents training at Earl K. Long. Harold was asked by Coach Paul Dietzel to be the LSU team doctor to be an example to the team that success in athletics and academics were not mutually exclusive.  Harold continued in that role for a short time after Charles McClendon became coach. During his practice, he was elected the President of the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society in 1983.  He also served on the Board of Directors of General Health, the Baton Rouge General, and Gulf South HMO. Harold was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School and was a volunteer to tutor children in reading at Bernard Terrace Elementary.  Harold loved the Baton Rouge Symphony until he could no longer attend.  He was also a member of the Baton Rouge Country Club. Harold was predeceased by his wife, Marie, his father, Charles H. Voss, Sr., M.D., and his mother, Mathilde Van Benthuysen Voss. He is survived by 3 children, Harold Matthew Voss, Jr., M.D. and his wife Kimberly, David C. Voss and his wife Susan Bankston, M.D., and Jean V. Frey and her husband Justin, his brother, Charles H. Voss, Jr., Ph.D. and his wife Elizabeth, and 5 grandchildren, Ashley L. Voss, Megan V. Zorch and her husband Michael, Wendy M. Voss, Neal C. Voss, and Rachel M. Voss, M.D., and a great-grandson, Connor Zorch. Visitation will be on Saturday, August 18, 2018, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. with a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street in Baton Rouge.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice.