From humble beginnings and tragedies in his early years, Dr. Alvin Jones has used these situations to compel him on a journey to help others and to be a blessing to his community. The well-known Bible verse in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is fitting to describe his life, replete with rich accomplishments through his faith in God.
I grew up on a cotton farm in the bottomland west of Moscow, Texas. I enjoyed playing basketball and running track. My high game in basketball was twenty-eight points, and in track, I ran the 880 (at that time measured in yards, not meters) in one minute and 58 seconds, and was district champ in track. Although my family did not have a wealth of goods, these were happy times. During these years, I also experienced some tragic losses. My brother died at the age of four, and my mother died the year I graduated from high school. Both deaths could be attributed to a lack of proper medical care. This fact has compelled me to seek cures for diseases so others won’t have similar heartbreaking losses.
Also, I lost sight in one eye during my teenage years due to an unfortunate accident. I’ve not let these events affect my goals in life but, instead, have used all these losses to develop a real empathy toward others and a deep desire to meet their medical needs.
I attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches in the fall of 1958 and was there for two years before meeting and marrying Anna. We moved to Austin for Anna’s new job, and I continued my undergraduate courses at the University of Texas, graduating in August 1961. Anna always worked and made the necessary sacrifices so that I could reach my educational goals, and she has been a God-given pillar of my life for the past sixty-three years.
I entered UTMB Medical School in Galveston in 1961 and, upon graduation in 1965, did a rotating internship at Memorial Medical Center in Corpus Christi. One event that happened during my second year of medical school changed me forever and replaced the fear I had of flunking with a renewed energy and confidence to excel and to do all to the glory of God. The best way to describe it was that I had a spiritual awakening as I watched a Billy Graham crusade on the television one evening during a study break. This spiritual awakening has dominated my desire to serve God and to serve my patients with a total commitment to the best care I can offer. It solidified my purpose in life. My studies became easier, and I graduated in the top 10% of my class of 140 students.
Before graduating from medical school, I received my orders to join the United States Army. This was during the height of the Vietnam War, and my orders were to serve at the 91st EVAC hospital in Da Nang. After six weeks of training at Ft. Sam Houston, I was reassigned to Ft. Lewis in Washington, where I served as Battalion Surgeon for the main post. This meant that I was the last U.S. doctor the soldiers would see before heading to Vietnam. I served in this role for two years, which included providing medical care for military members permanently assigned to this post.
In preparation to set up a medical practice, I consulted a site available through the Texas Medical Association which listed locations where physicians were needed. I decided on Huntsville because it was similar to the area where I grew up and enabled me to meet the needs of a rural and small-town population, a subject I knew well. Both Anna and I had families in the area as well. I joined the staff at Medical Arts Clinic (that Dr. Eugene Addison had established), eventually leaving to start a clinic on Lake Road. I served as a family practice physician for twenty years, delivering over two thousand babies during this time. I became certified in medical cardiology (non-invasive) and was licensed to perform laparoscopic procedures. These skills allowed me to better serve my patients and to offer medical help in other areas of the community outside of my own practice.
From 1976-1978, I served as Chief of Staff at Huntsville Memorial Hospital, as well as chair of the Quality Assurance Committee. We created the Walker County Hospital District and built a new hospital, and I was elected to serve as the physician on the hospital board for twelve years. I was always keenly aware of people who were financially challenged, so I worked toward the goal of medical care for the indigent, including the development of a community health center in Montgomery County. Since its creation, satellite clinics have been established in Tomball, Willis, and Huntsville. These clinics are mandated by the federal government to provide care for everybody, and this past year cared for over 100,000 patient visits.
In 1988, my focus and practice changed as I was recruited by Texas Tech Health Science Center (TTHSC) in Lubbock to join the Family Medicine faculty as Associate Professor and Associate Chair. The goal was to establish a clinical program for family medicine residents that would prepare them for rural medical practice. This was a natural move for me, because I was dedicated to providing quality medical care for rural citizens.
Other roles and areas of responsibility over the years include:
A couple of awards are especially meaningful to me. One is the UTMB Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award. This is awarded for outstanding service to the medical profession and to humanity. I was awarded this in June 2022, but was unable to personally accept the award because I was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer at the time. Our son Chuck accepted the award on my behalf. I was diagnosed in March 22 2022 with pancreatic cancer, and knowing the prognosis was usually dim, I elected to take part in an experimental treatment. Before beginning this, I asked my church congregation at First Baptist in Huntsville to gather around me, lay hands on me, and pray for a good outcome. I give glory to God the treatment was successful; during my recent nine-month checkup, I was given a clean bill of health. God, in Whom I place my faith, receives the glory for this wonderful result. And I am grateful for my friends who have prayed for me.
Another award I received was the Paul Harris Fellowship Award presented by the Rotary Foundation for my work to eradicate polio worldwide.
I have been the coordinator of this event for the last five years and have watched it grow from a gathering of about seventy people to a diverse crowd of more than 450 in attendance this past year. It is held annually at noon on the first Thursday in May at the Walker County Fairgrounds. The event includes a free lunch, music by an area choir, words from a local pastor, and prayer centered around topics that affect our nation and community, including a prayer in Spanish. We hope to broaden this event to include an evening service that will be more available to the public. Prayer is critical to the health of our nation and our own souls, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve God in this way. Another way God has used my life is as a volunteer for 10 years at the Goree Faith-based Dorm, where I have been able to share my faith.
Yes, Anna and I have enjoyed our Huntsville experience, and it has been a good location for raising our family. We have two daughters, Alison and Adrienne; one son, Chuck; and are now proud grandparents to Elerie, Beck, Mack, and Brodie. We always look forward to an annual trip to Marble, Colorado to fish and enjoy the magnificent scenery. I also play golf and grow roses. Quail hunting and fishing have been pleasurable pastimes as well.
To know and love Jesus Christ our Savior who gives you the strength to live your life to the fullest. John 14:6 (Jesus speaking) “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” My personal life anchor is Galatians: 2:20: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” I believe it is the presence of Christ’s healing Spirit that has touched my body and healed me from pancreatic cancer. James 5:15 “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”
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