In Memoriam: Richard T. Farrior, MD, AAO-HNS/F President 1989–1990
“Do justice, show kindness, and walk humbly.”
The vision and enthusiasm that Dr. Farrior brought to his presidency launched the Academy into the new decade with yet another year of major accomplishments across a broad spectrum of Academy endeavors.
During his presidency, Dr. Farrior was committed to strengthening the participation of the specialty in legislative affairs and to increasing the image of medicine and the specialty as a moral, ethical community. Through his Bulletin columns, he shared a consistent message, “I can’t urge each member enough to participate in community benevolent activities. It is not enough that we are truly a noble profession, but in the current climate, the public and the government need yet again to be convinced of this.”
Dr. Farrior returned to Tampa and joined his brother, J. Brown Farrior, Jr., MD, in practice. At the time, they had one of only two non-university affiliated otolaryngology training programs in the country at Tampa General Hospital. This was one of the foundational residencies for the University of South Florida Medical School. He was director of the residency training program in otolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery at Tampa General Hospital for 22 years, and he was a visiting professor at universities throughout the world. He was the first clinical professor in otolaryngology at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida.
Dr. Farrior practiced facial plastic surgery in Tampa until he was 77 years old. He always maintained his passion for teaching during his practice.
“Do justice, show kindness, and walk humbly,” were the parting thoughts from Dr. Farrior as shared by Edward Farrior, MD, Dr. Farrior’s son, who is the sixth generation of surgeons in the Farrior family and an AAO-HNS member.