Albert Bryan Spires

He lived a life of joyful service to his family, his friends, his profession, his state and his country. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Bryan was born to the the late Albert Bryan Spires and Maggie Louise Brenner on May 28, 1928 in Austin, Texas at the old Seton Hospital. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, a younger brother Milton Brenner Spires and by his youngest son, Wheeler Pettus Spires.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Appell Spires. Additionally, he is survived by his daughter, Sidney Spires and his son, Jefferson Bryan Pettus Spires. He is also survived by Linda's children Susan Kimberly Mueller, William David Appell Cox, James Peyton Cox junior and Cornelius Clay Cox IV; and by his sister Carol Spires Brown and family. In addition, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Dr. Spires received his BA from the University of Texas in Austin and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. Immediately after medical school, Dr. Spires was drafted into the Air Force under the Doctor Draft in force at that time. He was assigned to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, the chest center for the Air Force and put in place the first cardiac catheterization unit for the Air Force.

After his military service, Dr. Spires moved to the town of Taylor and joined the Johns Clinic for the practice of Internal Medicine. Bryan was active in his community and received the Citizen of the Year Award in 1968. He served as a City Commissioner and later as Mayor of Taylor. During that time, he was also elected to the Board of the Texas Municipal League.

In l969, Governor Preston Smith appointed Dr. Spires to the State Board of Medical Examiners. He was reappointed by Governor William Clements. He served on the board for 16 years, as its executive director for 11 of those years and retiring from service in l985. Also appointed to the Texas Health Coordinating Council, he served as Chairman for many years.

Dr. Ted Hartman, Dean, then asked him to move to Lubbock to serve as Associate Dean for CME at Texas Tech School of Medicine. He was instrumental in setting up a CME program for doctors in the far flung reaches of west Texas. He also helped establish the MEDNET, the first interactive telecommunications system to link providers with rural patients to improve rural health care in Texas. While at Texas Tech, as head of the Texas Medical Association students, with great joy, he mentored them and accompanied them to Chicago each year to the American Medical Association. He was very proud of his student future doctors.

During Dr. Spires' lifetime serving as a dedicated physician, he continued to be involved in professional organizations to help improve health care. He received high esteem and recognition for his contributions within the medical field. One of his life's proudest moments was being nominated for and receiving the Ashbel Smith Outstanding Alumnus Award from the UTMB in l978. In addition to the this prestigious award, he served on the Development Board for UTMB and on the Blue Ribbon Commission for the UTMB Centennial Celebration. Additionally, as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Alumni Association of UTMB, he served as President. In addition, he was a member of the Advisory Council for the UTMB school of Allied Health Sciences.

Dr. Spires served in many other professional organizations. As a life member of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, he served as President of the Texas Heart Association. From the American Heart Association, he received the award for Meritorious Service in the fight against heart disease. While serving as a Texas Society of Internal Medicine board member, he served as President for both the Texas Society and Austin Society at separate times. He also served on the Political Action Committee for Travis County Medical Society. He had the honor of serving as President of the 50-Year Club for the Texas Medical Association.

Dr. Spires was a member of the Texas Club of Internists, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Internal Medicine, He served as a Foundation Advisory Council Member of the UT School of Nursing at Austin.

Interested in the Arts, he served on the Board of Directors of The Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Musical Theatre Group and the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. One of his favorite past-times was enjoying classical music.

Services will be held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 3201 Windsor Road, Austin, TX, (512) 476-3523 at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 31, 2015 with The Reverend Christine Mendoza, Officiating. A reception will follow at Tarry House,

3006 Bowman Avenue, Austin, TX.

Donations may be made to The Settlement Home for Children of Austin or a charity of your choice.