“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his servants.” – Psalms 116:13
“You can’t help thinking that someone should make a movie out of Doc McCormick’s life” began an article in the Hays Free Press in 2006. Charles McCormick left the movie for the divine stage on August 25, 2012, in Buda, with his bride of 70 years at his side.
Dr. McCormick was born on January 23, 1919, in Austin, where he graduated from the University of Texas in 1939. He went on to obtain a medical degree at the Medical Branch in Galveston in 1942, after which he did an internship at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He married the love of his life, Geraldine Fogle McCormick, on a Sunday morning, June 28, 1942.
Because of WWII, he was sent to the Army School of Military Neuropsychiatry on Long Island and served his country at medical facilities in California, New York and Washington State. Upon leaving the army, he returned to practice general medicine in Buda, delivering some 1,600 to 1,800 babies. Along the way, he and Jerry had four babies of their own. During these years there were outbreaks of polio, typhus, “relapsing fever” (a tick-borne disease) and syphilis. He also gave himself a crash course in Spanish to help local and migrant workers. Dr. McCormick has been rightfully credited with being a quiet force of early desegregation through his medical practice.
He returned to Galveston to do a residency in neurology and psychiatry from 1960 to 1962 and became board certified in 1971, and in 1975, he was made a Life Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association. As a psychiatrist, in addition to having a private practice, he worked at the Austin State Hospital and served as chair of the Rusk State Hospital Review Board. He continued after retirement as a consultant in neurology and psychiatry to the Social Security Disability Determination division and the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, and as examiner in forensic psychiatry to the state district courts in Hays, Caldwell and Comal counties.
He was an active member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Texas Psychiatric Society (a past chair) and the Austin Psychiatric Society (former president), as well as the American Medical Association, TMA and other medical societies. He also authored articles for professional journals on various drugs and their uses and abuses, as well as an article on the insanity defense in the Texas Penal Code.
In addition, the versatile, capable and personable Dr. McCormick was on the Buda School Board for many years and, during his term as president, was instrumental in integrating the Buda schools. He chaired the United Fund drive for Buda and Hays County, taught Sunday school and served on the board of deacons of First Baptist Church in Buda, was on the city council – and was mayor of Buda from 1976 to 1982. He was also a founding member of the Headliners Club and a Ham Radio Operator (K5GVK) for many years.
Dr. McCormick is survived by his beloved Jerry, with whom he made a wonderful family: sons Thad (and wife Susan), Mike (and wife Kathy), John (and wife Cindy) and daughter Debbie (and husband Garry Vacek); grandchildren Melanie (and husband Garry Kaufman), Chuck (and wife Allie), Kelley (and wife Elizabeth), Karen (and husband Jayson Dilworth), Angela (and husband Alex Castano), Wayne Vacek (and wife Melissa), Stephen Vacek (and wife Kim), Amy (and husband Mark Kubecka), Tommy (and wife Mendi); and 25 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was at Harrell Funeral Home in Kyle on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. A service of thanksgiving for his life was held Wednesday, August 29, 2012, at the First Baptist Church of Buda with Pastor Buddy Johnson officiating. Private family graveside services will be at Austin Memorial Park. The pallbearers will be Dr. McCormick’s grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 104 S. San Marcos St., Buda, TX 78610.
“Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord! So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.” – Rev. 14:13
