Lubbock's Most Influential
(16) When he moved to Lubbock in 1939, Dr. J.A. Chatman brought more than his medical skills. He brought hope to the city's black community.
At that time there were fewer than 150 black physicians in the state and only five in West Texas.
Chatman was born in Navasota, was a seasonal cotton picker and graduated from high school in Mexia. After graduating from Prairie View A&M he earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
During his time in the cotton fields he had dreamed of opening a medical facility for blacks. He returned to Mexia and fulfilled those dreams by establishing the first Chatman Hospital. While there he earned a reputation as a community leader.
Six years after moving to Lubbock, he established another hospital bearing his name at 23rd Street and Cedar Avenue. The mission of the $35,000 facility was to serve the residents of East Lubbock. In 1952, he added a nurses' home and quarters for ambulatory patients.
Chatman's community involvement continued in Lubbock. He served in local, state and national capacities with various medical organizations.
His leadership skills extended into the entire city. He served on the board of the Commonwealth Club, the Negro Chamber of Commerce and was a founder of the Negro Boys Club. He was a member of the Community Chest (now United Way) and the March of Dimes. He was a member and district trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
As an active Democrat, he was the first black elected to an official post in the Lubbock County Democratic party and to serve as a delegate to the state Democratic Convention.
Gov. Price Daniel appointed him to two White House conferences. Gov. John Connally sent his congratulations in 1963 when Chatman was honored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance as a "man of deeds." Connally noted Chatman was "an ambassador of goodwill and citizen extraordinary."
Chatman's death in 1967 drew 1,400 mourners to the funeral service at First Methodist Church. His impact on Lubbock was noted in the eulogy by the Rev. D.E. Johnson of Dallas.
"Few men have given in such an affable manner of their time, talent and effort as Dr. J.A. Chatman. His service in the community, northwest Texas area and throughout the state of Texas was of such magnitude, quality and quantity that there was hardly an area in which his influence was not felt."
(16) When he moved to Lubbock in 1939, Dr. J.A. Chatman brought more than his medical skills. He brought hope to the city's black community.
At that time there were fewer than 150 black physicians in the state and only five in West Texas.
Chatman was born in Navasota, was a seasonal cotton picker and graduated from high school in Mexia. After graduating from Prairie View A&M he earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
During his time in the cotton fields he had dreamed of opening a medical facility for blacks. He returned to Mexia and fulfilled those dreams by establishing the first Chatman Hospital. While there he earned a reputation as a community leader.
Six years after moving to Lubbock, he established another hospital bearing his name at 23rd Street and Cedar Avenue. The mission of the $35,000 facility was to serve the residents of East Lubbock. In 1952, he added a nurses' home and quarters for ambulatory patients.
Chatman's community involvement continued in Lubbock. He served in local, state and national capacities with various medical organizations.
His leadership skills extended into the entire city. He served on the board of the Commonwealth Club, the Negro Chamber of Commerce and was a founder of the Negro Boys Club. He was a member of the Community Chest (now United Way) and the March of Dimes. He was a member and district trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
As an active Democrat, he was the first black elected to an official post in the Lubbock County Democratic party and to serve as a delegate to the state Democratic Convention.
Gov. Price Daniel appointed him to two White House conferences. Gov. John Connally sent his congratulations in 1963 when Chatman was honored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance as a "man of deeds." Connally noted Chatman was "an ambassador of goodwill and citizen extraordinary."
Chatman's death in 1967 drew 1,400 mourners to the funeral service at First Methodist Church. His impact on Lubbock was noted in the eulogy by the Rev. D.E. Johnson of Dallas.
"Few men have given in such an affable manner of their time, talent and effort as Dr. J.A. Chatman. His service in the community, northwest Texas area and throughout the state of Texas was of such magnitude, quality and quantity that there was hardly an area in which his influence was not felt."
Lubbock's Most Influential
(16) When he moved to Lubbock in 1939, Dr. J.A. Chatman brought more than his medical skills. He brought hope to the city's black community.
At that time there were fewer than 150 black physicians in the state and only five in West Texas.
Chatman was born in Navasota, was a seasonal cotton picker and graduated from high school in Mexia. After graduating from Prairie View A&M he earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
During his time in the cotton fields he had dreamed of opening a medical facility for blacks. He returned to Mexia and fulfilled those dreams by establishing the first Chatman Hospital. While there he earned a reputation as a community leader.
Six years after moving to Lubbock, he established another hospital bearing his name at 23rd Street and Cedar Avenue. The mission of the $35,000 facility was to serve the residents of East Lubbock. In 1952, he added a nurses' home and quarters for ambulatory patients.
Chatman's community involvement continued in Lubbock. He served in local, state and national capacities with various medical organizations.
His leadership skills extended into the entire city. He served on the board of the Commonwealth Club, the Negro Chamber of Commerce and was a founder of the Negro Boys Club. He was a member of the Community Chest (now United Way) and the March of Dimes. He was a member and district trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
As an active Democrat, he was the first black elected to an official post in the Lubbock County Democratic party and to serve as a delegate to the state Democratic Convention.
Gov. Price Daniel appointed him to two White House conferences. Gov. John Connally sent his congratulations in 1963 when Chatman was honored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance as a "man of deeds." Connally noted Chatman was "an ambassador of goodwill and citizen extraordinary."
Chatman's death in 1967 drew 1,400 mourners to the funeral service at First Methodist Church. His impact on Lubbock was noted in the eulogy by the Rev. D.E. Johnson of Dallas.
"Few men have given in such an affable manner of their time, talent and effort as Dr. J.A. Chatman. His service in the community, northwest Texas area and throughout the state of Texas was of such magnitude, quality and quantity that there was hardly an area in which his influence was not felt."
(16) When he moved to Lubbock in 1939, Dr. J.A. Chatman brought more than his medical skills. He brought hope to the city's black community.
At that time there were fewer than 150 black physicians in the state and only five in West Texas.
Chatman was born in Navasota, was a seasonal cotton picker and graduated from high school in Mexia. After graduating from Prairie View A&M he earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
During his time in the cotton fields he had dreamed of opening a medical facility for blacks. He returned to Mexia and fulfilled those dreams by establishing the first Chatman Hospital. While there he earned a reputation as a community leader.
Six years after moving to Lubbock, he established another hospital bearing his name at 23rd Street and Cedar Avenue. The mission of the $35,000 facility was to serve the residents of East Lubbock. In 1952, he added a nurses' home and quarters for ambulatory patients.
Chatman's community involvement continued in Lubbock. He served in local, state and national capacities with various medical organizations.
His leadership skills extended into the entire city. He served on the board of the Commonwealth Club, the Negro Chamber of Commerce and was a founder of the Negro Boys Club. He was a member of the Community Chest (now United Way) and the March of Dimes. He was a member and district trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
As an active Democrat, he was the first black elected to an official post in the Lubbock County Democratic party and to serve as a delegate to the state Democratic Convention.
Gov. Price Daniel appointed him to two White House conferences. Gov. John Connally sent his congratulations in 1963 when Chatman was honored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance as a "man of deeds." Connally noted Chatman was "an ambassador of goodwill and citizen extraordinary."
Chatman's death in 1967 drew 1,400 mourners to the funeral service at First Methodist Church. His impact on Lubbock was noted in the eulogy by the Rev. D.E. Johnson of Dallas.
"Few men have given in such an affable manner of their time, talent and effort as Dr. J.A. Chatman. His service in the community, northwest Texas area and throughout the state of Texas was of such magnitude, quality and quantity that there was hardly an area in which his influence was not felt."
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