Senate Concurrent Resolution 675

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF DR. DONALD EDWARD "DON" KILLELEA, SR., RESPECTED PEDIATRICIAN, VETERAN, DEVELOPER OF PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CIVIC LEADER IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING SYMPATHY ON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Dr. Donald Edward (Don) Killelea, Sr., respected pediatrician, veteran, developer of programs for children with learning disabilities and civic leader in Natchez, Mississippi, passed away on March 13, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Killelea was born August 25, 1926, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Edward Joseph and Genevieve Killelea; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Killelea was a pediatrician who began practicing medicine in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1953. He grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, and after graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Texas. He left the university in 1944 to serve in the United States Army and was stationed on a hospital ship as a medical administrative officer. He returned to the University of Texas and graduated with a bachelor's degree, and enrolled at Tulane University Medical School in 1948, where he received his medical degree in 1952; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Killelea came to Natchez in 1953 as a general practitioner. In 1955, Dr. Killelea met and married Katherine Ferguson. In 1970, he established the Children's Clinic and developed the first hospital neonatal intensive care unit in Mississippi. Dr. Killelea and Dr. John Coffey, in 1967, collaborated as the first physicians in the state to place babies on ventilators to help them breath; and

WHEREAS, in 1963, Dr. Killelea organized Mississippi's first distribution of oral polio vaccines. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Jefferson Davis Memorial Hospital (now Natchez Regional Medical Center) in 1966, and was the first medical doctor to serve on the hospital board. While practicing medicine, he also taught at Tulane University for more than 30 years as an instructor and clinical professor of pediatrics; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Killelea helped to establish Pleasant Acre Day School, a school for children with learning disabilities and served as its long-time president. He developed a speech therapy program in 1964 that later became part of the Natchez Public School System. In 1967, he developed a program for children with learning disabilities that was the first of its kind in the state. Dr. Killelea retired in 1997 after practicing medicine for 45 years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Killelea was on the Britton & Koontz First National Bank Board of Directors from 1976 to 2000. He also served as Chairman of the St. Mary Basilica and Cathedral School Development Committee, helped organize the Tulane Pediatric Alumni Association and was its first president. A lover of music, Dr. Killelea helped establish the Natchez Opera Festival (now the Natchez Music Festival) in 1991, and served as its board chairman for several years. He was also on the Santa Claus Committee and Children's Christmas Tree Executive Committee. Dr. Killelea was King of Rex of the Krewe of Phoenix in 1991 and the Krewe of Killarney's St. Patrick in 1996; and

WHEREAS, survivors include his wife Katherine; five daughters, Kathy Sizemore and husband Robert, Ginny Killelea, Margee Wohner and husband Collins, Donna Ann Bliss and husband Lewis, and Patty Killelea; two sons, Donald and his wife Amy, and Edward and his wife Kathryn; six grandchildren, Ginny Bliss, Katherine Bliss, Carlen Sizemore, Medley Wohner, Catherine Wohner and Sophia Killelea; one brother, Robert Killelea and wife Becky Killelea; and

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this energetic and productive citizen whose selfless leadership will be missed by a grateful community and state:

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 of Dr. Donald Edward "Don" Killelea, Sr., respected pediatrician, veteran, developer of programs for children with learning disabilities and civic leader in Natchez, Mississippi, and express to his surviving family our sympathy on his passing.

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