The Fitts-White Clinic in Jackson, Tennessee
I have had a number of recent requests about my family background. I thought I would provide a collection of information which will help you understand why I value my family.
One of my relatives wrote a letter to their Congressman many years back that described my family. Here is a modified excerpt:
Catherine comes from a family of Democrats and Republicans with a long-standing tradition both as public officials and private citizens of active involvement with federal, state, and local government.
- Her late maternal great-grandfather organized the Pennsylvania Dairy Association and served as the Secretary of Agriculture of Pennsylvania. (more here)
- Her late maternal grandfather, as dean of the Wharton School, conducted research which paved the way for the first unemployment offices in Pennsylvania. (See also.)
- Her late paternal grandfather and step-grandfather, medical partners, working with our great uncle, then a U.S. Senator, brought penicillin to Tennessee and founded the Fitts-White Clinic in Jackson, Tennessee.
- Her late father, as chief of surgery at Penn Medical School, used the specialty he acquired serving the China-Burma-India Theatre in World War II to regionalize the treatment of trauma throughout the country. Click here to see a photograph.
- Her late mother founded a nursery school in Philadelphia and served at the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank and as editor of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Bulletin.
- Her late step-mother worked to ensure women were appropriately represented on Tennessee juries.
- One of her late uncles, an academic surgeon, founded the first organ bank in South Carolina.
- One of her uncles, a retired business school professor counseled on alternatives to violence in New Hampshire’s schools and prisons and served as a pilot in WWII. (Update Here)
- One of her uncles, a former Navy SEAL, trained also as an engineer and lawyer, served Tennessee directly as chief architect, making sure its public buildings are safe, functional, and attractive. His obituary is here Michael Austin Fitts .
My family is full of hardworking, giving people. Their lives and accomplishments have been an example to me of the importance of strong families. As we go through a time of uncertainty and change, remember to reach out, support and lift up the members of your family, particularly those in the next generation.
Jerry:
Oh my, those are kind words. Sitting across from me is a frame with a fabric in which the word’s “God’s Noble Woman” is embroidered. The pastor who taught the class, God’s Noble Woman, gave it to each of her students. It was the advanced course we took after “Spiritual Warfare.”
You might enjoy this piece I wrote about my family here in Hickory Valley:
Mildred Mitchell and the Power of Praise
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0210/S00023.htm
Catherine
Proverbs 31: 26 says it all surely!!!!!
and O look at the verse before. Kind of prophetic I think.
Cheers
Jerry Lesac
PS. B-asic
I-instructions
B-efore
L-eaving
E-arth
Yes, you’re a rare person. Someone Mark Twain would have liked.
I worked with the government, in general it’s scum.
The problem as I see it now is that most intelligent people turn out ok, in the top of the pyramid, that is becoming pretty broad with government ‘workers’ I have to say.
Of course the public supports them but they are so stupid….. so extremely stupid that they don’t understand that their added value is stolen and mostly don’t care.
So the only people who care are the ones in the top of the pyramid that have a conscience and the ones that are not in the top of the pyramid but should have been there.
The system collapses when the top of the pyramid gets too broad or takes too much, like in Russia before the revolution. Now it’s getting too broad in the West with government and soon it will collapse, around 2015 could be possible.. And then I hope it will not start again but it will only stop when >50% of the people get smart enough to understand it.
It’s how I see it now.
Thanks Catherine for sharing your testimony with the world. I think I would have become unhinged had I had to fight all those lawyers and keep my principles in line.
Christine:
Thank you!
I used to work for large corporations and government agencies. As the corruption grew, it became more and more of a struggle to do things that helped people and to avoid things that harmed people. Finally, the only way to stay clean was to find a way to work directly for individuals and families. I must say, it is a great way to live.
So, truly, THANK YOU!
Another note on my family. When the litigation against HUD/DOJ began, I realized that given the stress and expense combined with harassment and smears, that I literally might not make it. I decided to review the histories of who had lived through this situation to determine what factors had caused some to succeed and some to fail. One of the most important factors was family support. Without family support, a person was unlikely to make it through. Many fell victim to their own anger and health problems.
Sure enough, despite great pressure, my family stuck by me and supported me and it made all the difference. I was very lucky.
Catherine
Catherine,
I now understand how the influence of your wonderful family helped shape your life!
Your enthusiasm, brilliance and great attitude is truly a inspiration to me!!
I did not grow up with any understanding of the financial world and through listening to you,
Catherine, I am beginning to understand so much now. Thank you for being you!!
Thank you for posting this information, Catherine. How blessed to be part of such a wonderful, caring, and accomplished family! Words fail me. Thank you for sharing their light with us. Thank you for sharing your light with us.