Jack Hugh Bankead

OB6 Obituaries, Notices
Published in the Dallas Morning News on 3/16/2007.

BANKEAD, M.D., , JACK HUGH On March 13, 2007, Jack Hugh Bankead, M.D., age 85, was reunited in Heaven with his daughter, Ann Leigh Bankead, who preceded him in death in 1991.

Dr. Bankead was born December 18, 1921 in Kansas City, Missouri to Cecil Gibson Bankead and Jessie Kemper Bankead. He attended the Kansas City Missouri School System and graduated in 1939 from Northeast High School.

During his last year in high school, he was signed to a professional baseball contract by Bill Essick, the then chief scout for the New York Yankee Baseball Organization. A year later he caught the eye of Branch Rickey, who signed him to a contract to play ball with the St. Louis Cardinal Baseball Club.

He remained with the Cardinals until his enlistment in the United States Armed Forces and served in the U.S. Army, 83rd Infantry Division, 330th Regiment from 1942 through the end of World War II.

Dr. Bankead was a decorated veteran having participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and was a recipient of three Bronze Stars for heroism and received a Purple Heart.

During his baseball career, he suffered an injury which led him to develop an interest in medicine. Prior to his military service, he attended Kansas City Junior College, Marshall College, Texas A & M University, and Manhattan College
in New York City.

His interest in medicine was sharpened during his service on the battlefield as a medic during the war. Upon his discharge from the military, he continued his education, and he graduated from the Creighton University Medical School in 1951.

He spent his first five years in practice as a country doctor in Nebraska. He later enrolled in an Anesthesia residency at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri and practiced in that field until his retirement in 1986. Dr. Bankead was a longtime member of First Baptist Church Dallas and served as a Deacon and active member in Ms. Criswells Bible Class.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Mary Kathryn Bankead; son, Steven C. Bankhead and wife, Kathy Bankhead; son, John R. Bankhead and wife,
Sindy Bankhead; six grandchildren, Matthew, Deborah Ann, Michael, John Samuel, Will, and Sarah Ann Bankhead.

The family will receive friends 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Friday, March 16, 2007 at Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home in Sachse.

Service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 17, 2007 at First Baptist Dallas, Heritage Chapel, 1707 San Jacinto, Dallas, TX. Reverend Steve Collins officiating. Charles W. Smith and Sons Funeral Home 5th Street @ Hwy. 78 Sachse Texas 75048 (972) 414-5050.