J. Willis Hurst

John Willis Hurst was the only child of John Hurst and Verna Bell Hurst.[4] He was born in Cooper, Kentucky, a community near Monticello, Kentucky, in Wayne County, Kentucky, on October 21, 1920.[5][1] In Cooper, Hurst's father owned and operated a general store.[6]

Eleven months after he was born, Hurst's family moved to Carrollton, Georgia.[4] In Carrollton, Hurst's father served as the principal of a small, local school.[4] During this time, Hurst's family lived in dormitory style housing on the school's grounds with several other teachers, including his aunt.[7] In 1932, Hurst's father quit teaching in order to assist with the development of the Carrollton Federal Savings and Loan Association.[6] At this time, the family moved to a single family home on Cefar Street.[6]

Hurst graduated from Carrollton High School in 1937.[8] He then enrolled at West Georgia College in Carrollton.[4] At West Georgia College he met his future wife Nelie Wiley.[9] After two years, Hurst transferred to the University of Georgia.[4] There, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in zoology and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.[4]

In 1941, Hurst began his studies at the Medical College of Georgia.[4] He graduated first in his class in 1944.[4] He then began his internship and residency at the University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia.[1]

In 1946, after completing his residency, Hurst was drafted into the army and was stationed at Fitzsimons General Hospital near Denver, Colorado.[10] During this time he obtained the rank of captain.[1] His tour of duty in Denver was cut short, however, as Hurst was allowed to return home following the news of an automobile accident that killed his mother-in-law and severely injured his sister-in-law.[9]

Then, in 1947 Hurst began working as a fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital.[1] There he met Dr. Paul Dudley White, the Father of American cardiology, who became one of Hurst's most influential mentors.[4][6] Meeting White prompted Hurst to commit to specializing in cardiology.[9]

After completing his fellowship in Massachusetts, Hurst returned to Georgia in 1949 and briefly established a private practice in Atlanta.[4] Then, in 1950, he accepted a job offer at Emory University.[4]

In 1954, Hurst was drafted for the second time.[4] He was assigned to the Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he was appointed Chief of Cardiology.[1] On July 2, 1955, Lyndon B. Johnson, then majority leader of the senate, suffered a heart attack.[4] It was during this incident that Hurst took on the role of Johnson's personal cardiologist.[4] He continued to serve as Johnson's cardiologist until Johnson's death in 1973.[4] Hurst even traveled with Johnson to 15 countries when Johnson served as the vice president during the Kennedy administration.[1] Hurst declined the offer to serve as White House Physician during Johnson's presidency.[1]

Hurst was honorably discharged from the military in 1955 and returned to Emory University.[4] There, he resumed teaching and also practiced consultative cardiology.[4] In 1957, Hurst was named the Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Emory, a position he held until 1986.[4] Even after stepping down from the role of chairman, Hurst continued to teach at Emory.[4] In the early 1960s, Hurst assisted with the creation of both the continuing medical education program in cardiology at Emory and the Emory Clinic.[1] Then, in 1991, Hurst was named as a consultant to Emory's Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.[4] He continued in this role until 2007.[4] During his time at Emory, Hurst taught more than 5,000 residents and 2,500 residents and fellows.[11]

Hurst served a term as the president of the American Heart Association and a term as the president of the Association of Professors of Medicine.[12] He was also a member of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Council.[12] He also served as Chairman for the Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Disease.[13]

Throughout his career, Hurst edited over 60 books and published over 350 scientific articles.[4] His works include a children's book and several novels.[12]

• Lamartine Hardman Cup (1968) - Medical Association of Georgia[14]
• Master Teacher Award (1970, 1974)- American College of Cardiology[13]
• Gifted Teacher Award (1974)- American College of Cardiology[13]
• Gold Heart Award (1974) - American Heart Association[13]
• Herrick Award (1980)- American Heart Association[13]
• Distinguished Teacher Award (1985) - American College of Physicians[15]
• Evangeline Papageorge Teaching Award (1995) - Emory University[13]

On December 20, 1942, John Willis Hurst married Nelie Wiley Hurst.[16] Together, they had three sons John W. Hurst, Jr., J. Stephen Hurst, and Philip W. Hurst.[1] Nelie passed away on April 26, 2004.[16]

John W. Hurst, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and currently works as a cardiologist in Atlanta, GA.[17]

• J. Willis Hurst at Find a Grave
• J. Willis Hurst papers, 1937-2011 at the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University
• J. Willis Hurst papers, 1951-2009 at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library Archives, Emory University