Homer R. Goehrs

"The hope of every physician is to carry out good and faithful service to humanity all of our life." – Jimmy Graham, M.D. Homer Goehrs lived that hope every day of his life. He was born in Houston, Texas, the middle son of Vivian Long Goehrs and Irving A. Goehrs. He and his two brothers enjoyed a stable, pleasant, fun-filled childhood. He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston in 1941 and attended the University of Houston until he enlisted as a pharmacist's mate in the US Navy in December 1942. He later attended the University of Texas under the V-12 pre-medical program. After completing Baylor College of Medicine in 1950, he trained as an intern and surgical resident at Baltimore City Hospital. During the Korean War he was called back into the Navy as a surgeon on the heavy cruiser USS Albany. Dr. Goehrs was trained in rheumatology at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), received a fellowship in internal medicine and then joined the Mayo rheumatology staff. He came to Austin in 1959, and a year later joined with Drs. Virgil Lawlis and Leonard Sayers in an internal medicine practice that later became the Austin Diagnostic Clinic. In 1989 he began a four-year term as Executive Director of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Goehrs had a knack for learning and teaching and was active in the Central Texas Medical Foundation training program at Brackenridge Hospital. He commuted to teach at the University of Texas Medical School when it opened in San Antonio. At age 68 he became a baseball umpire for youth and high school leagues after training at The Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in Arizona. Dr. Goehrs was president of the Travis County Medical Society, the Travis County Blood Bank, the Rotary Club of North Austin and the Headliners Club, where he also served on the Board of Trustees. Professional memberships included: Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association, National Society of Clinical Rheumatologists, Founding Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, Fellow of American College of Physicians, Texas Rheumatism Association. In 1992 he received a Laureate Award from the Texas Chapter of the American College of Physicians. In 2009 he was named "Physician of the Year" by the Travis County Medical Society. He was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Sue Goehrs, and his brother, Vernon Goehrs. He is survived by his wife, Glenda Goehrs. Other survivors include: brother, Robert I. Goehrs (and Bonnie); sons John Goehrs (and Sheri), Kenneth Goehrs (and Melinda); plus Glenda's children: Karen Rose Sullivan (and Robert Clark), Brad Yerkes and Bryan Yerkes. Also seven grandchildren: James Rowe (and Jen), Kathryn Rowe, Kenneth Goehrs II, Marlee and Austin Yerkes, Joshua and Braulio Yerkes, Lyndsy and Nickolas Almanza, and one great-grandchild, Ethan Rowe. Dr. Goehrs is also survived by six nieces and nephews. Heartfelt thanks to our Hospice team, especially Frances Mojica. Visitation at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, 7:00 – 8:30pm Friday, March 12. Memorial service: 11:00am Saturday, March 13 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Blood & Tissue Center of Central Texas Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 5159, Austin, TX 78763 or Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 5176, Austin, TX 78763.