Dickey received many honors for his community
service. He was named the year's most outstanding citizen of Taylor in 1953
by the chamber of commerce, the first time a black man had been so honored
in the community. He was also named general practitioner of the year by the
Lone Star State Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association in 1953.
for more
information click on Dr.DICKEY, JAMES LEE
by The Handbook of Texas
Online
DR. JAMES LEE DICKEY
PHYSICIAN, HUMANITARIAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND CONCERNED CITIZEN DR.
JAMES LEE DICKEY (d. 1959) HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN
HIS ADOPTED HOMETOWN OF TAYLOR. BORN IN McLENNAN COUNTY IN 1893, HE ATTENDED
WACO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TILLOTSON COLLEGE, AUSTIN. MILITARY SERVICE IN WORLD
WAR I INTERRUPTED HIS TRAINING AT MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE IN NASHVILLE,
TENNESSEE, BUT UPON GRADUATION IN 1921, HE RETURNED TO CENTRAL TEXAS TO HELP
HIS WIDOWED MOTHER RAISE HIS EIGHT SIBLINGS. HE SETTLED IN TAYLOR WITH HIS
WIFE, MAGNOLIA (FOWLER) (1902-1959), AS THE CITY'S ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN
DOCTOR AT THE TIME.
DR. DICKEY WORKED HARD TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS OF TAYLOR, CALLING
FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LOCAL WATER SUPPLY AND HEADING A COMMUNITY EFFORT
AGAINST AN OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID FEVER IN 1932-33. A CLINIC HE OPENED IN A
HOUSE AT THAT TIME EXPANDED TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND COUNTIES IN
THE SURROUNDING AREA. HE DEVELOPED PROGRAMS FOR INFANT CARE AND WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN ADMITTING AFRICAN AMERICAN PATIENTS TO STATE TUBERCULAR
CLINICS.
DR. DICKEY'S ADVOCACY EXTENDED BEYOND HEALTH CARE TO EDUCATION AND CIVIL
RIGHTS. HE WORKED FOR PASSAGE OF SCHOOL BONDS AND IMPROVEMENTS, AND LED
EFFORTS FOR LOCAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND FEDERAL HOUSING. HE WAS ALSO A
FOUNDER OF THE TAYLOR NEGRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SERVED AS A TRUSTEE OF
TILLOTSON COLLEGE.
FOR HIS EFFORTS, DR. DICKEY RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND HONORS, INCLUDING
DISTINCTION BY THE TAYLOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS MAN OF THE YEAR IN 1952.
HIS GREATEST REWARDS, HOWEVER, CAME THROUGH HIS LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
CITIZENS OF TAYLOR. AS HE NOTED, "TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LEAVE
BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE."
The tireless efforts
of Dr. James Lee Dickey, the first African-American doctor in Williamson
County, significantly impacted the citizens of Taylor, Williamson
County, and Texas.
Dickey was born in
central Texas, near Waco, in 1893. He attended Waco public schools and
later graduated from Tillotson College in Austin. In 1921, Dr. Dickey
graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. After
his father’s death, Dr. Dickey and his wife, Magnolia, traveled to
Taylor, Texas, to help take care of his mother and eight siblings.
In the 1930s, Dr.
Dickey helped stop a typhoid epidemic ravaging the black population by
administering shots. Through his work with community leaders, Dr. Dickey
helped supply clean drinking water to underprivileged citizens and
developed recreational facilities for the youth of Taylor.
In 1953, during a
time of racial segregation, Dr. Dickey was honored as Taylor’s Citizen
of the Year for his accomplishments.
Dickey later said,
“The hand of destiny guided me to Taylor; I came to stay a few years; I
remained to do my life’s work.”
