Famous meetings are the stuff of legend. For instance, Paul McCartney meeting John Lennon at a church gathering in Liverpool, England, changed the face of music around the world in the 1960s.

While not as well known—but arguably more important to Houstonians—is the story of William Seybold meeting Mavis Kelsey while they attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. They became close friends while in training at the Mayo Clinic, and their friendship later resulted in better healthcare for Houstonians for 55 years—and counting.

Dr. Seybold, who passed away at the age of 89 on July 18, and Dr. Kelsey, both fifth generation Texans, were drawn back to Texas to practice in the new Texas Medical Center. Dr. Kelsey opened the clinic in 1949, and Dr. Seybold joined the practice in 1951 after his first year practicing in Houston. Together they helped develop what is now Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. It was a time when critics said the concept of a Texas Medical Center would not succeed because it was too far from downtown. Indeed, the success of both the Texas Medical Center and the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic exceeded even the founders’ expectations.

Dr. Seybold was a revered general and thoracic surgeon serving as Chief of Staff of St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital from 1968 to 1971 as well as the Chief of Surgery. He served as the Chief of Staff of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in the early 70’s and retired in 1979.

“He was very popular with the medical students and medical residents he taught, and he was highly respected by his fellow surgeons. He played a leading role in the development of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic,” notes Dr. Kelsey. “Dr. Seybold