Sam F. Hartman, M.D., 92, of Beaumont, died Sunday, May 17, 2009 at his residence.
Dr. Hartman was born in Greenville, Mississippi on November 30, 1916 to Marcellus and Marie Feiss Hartman. He and his identical twin brother, Lee Edward Hartman, were graduates of the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, and Louisiana State University, where both were members of Huey Long's beloved LSU Tigers Marching Band. They both earned their M.D. degrees from the LSU Medical School in New Orleans. Sam met and married Margaret Alston, R.N., in New Orleans on February 14, 1942.
During World War II, he served as a Flight Surgeon assigned to the 8th Air Force's 96th Bomb Group from 1942-1945. His citations include The Air Medal, Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign ribbon with six battle stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster.
After retiring as a Captain from the Army Air Force, Dr. Hartman practiced general medicine in Merryville and Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 1951, he moved to Beaumont, Texas, where his brother had an established medical practice. He joined the medical staff of the Magnolia Mutual Benefit Association before opening his own private general medicine practice, completing forty years before his retirement in 1991. He was a founding member of the American Academy of General Practice in 1947, and honored with a Charter Fellowship bestowed in 1973 by the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was active in the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 96th Bomb Group Association, having contributed numerous narratives for publication in the association's newsletter. He was the last surviving medical officer of his group.
Dr. Hartman is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Margaret; his son, Marcellus of Austin; his daughters, Lydia Anderson of Beaumont, Elizabeth Hartman of Marfa, and Helen Hartman of Portland, Oregon; his granddaughter, Camille Hartman Latour of Austin and her mother, Beverly Grossman of Blanco; and several nieces and nephews.
A gathering of his family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas, 77704; your favorite library; or to a charitable organization.
