Senate Concurrent Resolution 532

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF MISSISSIPPI'S FIRST NEUROLOGIST, DR. RICHARD W. NAEF, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE ON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Dr. Richard Wick Naef, Mississippi's first Neurologist and Jackson civic and charitable leader, passed away on January 20, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Richard W. Naef was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 8, 1927, and graduated from Central High School in 1945. He served in the Hospital Corps of the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947, ending his tour of duty at the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After his honorable discharge, he attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, year-round, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1949. He then entered Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1953; and

WHEREAS, Richard Naef was awarded the Gold Medal in Anatomy in his freshman year, and later the Gold Medal in Otology. He was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honors society since his undergraduate years, and was accepted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical fraternity in medical school; and

WHEREAS, his residency in Neurology was with his mentor, the late Dr. Bernard Alpers; he also completed a residency in Psychiatry. Dr. Naef moved back to Jackson in 1959 as the first Neurologist to practice in the State of Mississippi, joining the practice of Neurosurgeons Neill, Neill and Hodges. He received the Millsaps Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1960; and

WHEREAS, Richard Naef met his future wife, the late Jane Ellen Newell Naef, in the Central High School Glee Club, and in college they were active in the Millsaps Singers. Both of these choral groups were directed by the late Alvin Jon King, whose friendship and tutelage profoundly shaped their lives. Dr. Naef was an avid record collector and he and his wife greatly enjoyed attending concerts. This love of music led the Naefs to nurture Jackson's musical institutions; they were founding members of the Jackson Choral Society and long-time members of Fondren Presbyterian Church, where they sang in the choir and Dr. Naef served as Elder and Sunday School Teacher. They were strong supporters of Jackson's Symphony, Opera and Ballet; and

WHEREAS, in the early 1960s, Dr. Naef and partner, Dr. William E. Bowlus, opened their neurology practice. In time, they were joined by the late Dr. Lawrence Mahalak, Dr. Ancel C. Tipton, Jr. and Dr. David McHenry. Dr. Naef saw patients at all Jackson hospitals, as well as attending to patients once a week at the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield. From 1959 to 1963, he was part-time Assistant Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). In 1963, he assumed an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at UMMC, a position he held until his retirement in 1995. Faith guided Dr. Naef's efforts as a physician, as he sought to make his Christian life the center of his medical practice. He was among those doctors in Jackson who decided early on to integrate their waiting rooms, accepting patients from all races and all walks of life; and

WHEREAS, Richard Naef was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Jane Ellen Newell Naef, and by his parents and his youngest brother. He is remembered with love by his daughter, the Rev. Dr. Linda Naef, and her husband, Richard L. Hudson, and grandchildren, Tyler Richard Hudson-Naef and Ellen Caroline Hudson-Naef, all of Jackson; daughter, Lorie Naef, and her husband, Theodore G. Ammon, and granddaughters, Kristin Naef Ammon and Bethany Naef Ammon, all of Jackson; daughter, Lisa Naef Terry, and her husband, R. Michael Terry, and grandsons, Guy Sanford Terry and Ian Lynn Terry, all of New York City. He also leaves two sisters, two brothers and many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this Mississippi citizen whose charity and civic leadership will be deeply missed:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and civic contributions of Mississippi's first Neurologist, Dr. Richard W. Naef, and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Dr. Naef and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.