There was almost a bounce in his walk along the giant, oak-arbor sidewalk, just yards away from his beautiful brick home across Bayou Boeuf, the stately home and sloping green sward with the American flag flying proudly-handsome Dr. David Carlton was approaching the beautiful clinic/hospital in Lecompte: my first view of one of the doctors serving thousands of patients and bus loads out of central Louisiana.

David Carlton as an athlete and active young man had walked many miles before I knew him as a beloved doctor in Lecompte. He was nurtured in a family with seven siblings in Shreveport where education was a priority; Fair Park High School gave him the spin-off to Centenary College. He became part of the famous basketball Centenary Gents and loved all the camaraderie a lively campus offers, much to the dismay of his advisors and grades. Marilyn Miller, a beautiful brunette, was to play a stellar role later in his life but never had classes with David, for she was not a pre-med major.

All young men at that time adhered the call of the draft or patriotism, and David answered the call in June 1943. Pre-med students were deferred, which David gave up. He was an Ensign, assistant Gunnery Officer, on the USS CROSS, a destroyer escort, managing his 6'4", 138-lb. frame through trying times during the war in the Pacific. His love of sports and Centenary Gents basketball was an entree into playing basket ball while in the navy and was a team member that won the championship. David's lengthy war experiences are worth reading in WORLD WAR II VETERANS: SPEAKING FROM THE HEART, v. 2.

Thus, David Carlton, was back in Centenary after three years to finish his pre-med requisites and undergraduate degree. "I finally found out how you make an 'A': you study and listen to the prof and read the book, and at test time you give the right answer." Graduating in 1947, he applied to Tulane Medical School, New Orleans. Those years of playing around affected his grades for the Dean almost snarled reporting that the school, "had the brightest students we've ever had." Dr. Mary Waters, honored and respected Biology Professor at Centenary, got on the phone to the Dean assuring him that David Carlton was the kind of student they were looking for, and he was accepted within 24 hours.

A friend from Shreveport was living with the Anatomy Professor and family, who took in three students including David. "We rode to school with him every day. The last thing he wanted was one of his students to flunk. We were up to midnight every night studying. I lived with them two years." During his first two years, they were at the uptown campus and the downtown campus the last two years. "Medical school was a pleasant event. You wanted to be the one to lead the class, and I did at times."

David did his internship at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orlando, FL and was ready for his residency when Dr. Morris J. Hair offered him summer employment in Lecompte, LA. At that time it wasn't mandatory to do a residency, but "you were looked down upon if you didn't." So, David and his bride, Marilyn, moved to Lecompte. Dr. Hair was so pleased with him, he declared, "You don't have to do a residency if you are going to be a country doctor." "Dr. Hair was a top-notch guy."

Lecompte is in some of the best farming country in the world. After the Louisiana Purchase, planters staked out huge holdings and began production of cotton and cane, shipped to market on Bayou Boeuf and, after 1841, on the first railroad west of the Mississippi River, to Alexandria port.

Doctors had always been available. According to Dr. Carlton's loyal employees, Dr. E. L. Henry and Dr. Benjamin C. Blake were partners practicing medicine in the early 1900s. Dr. Henry died in 1917. In 1921 Dr. Blake built a sanitarium." Dr. Hair returned from medical service in World War II and joined Dr. Blake. Upon Dr. Blake's retirement, Dr. Hair invited Dr. Carlton to join him.

Dr. Carlton wanted to replace the building with a modem structure for patients, 14 hospital rooms, an operating and delivery room. It is the beautiful colonial-style building, all under one roof as opposed to several separate structures for hospitalized patients. (Related to me by older citizens) Here were two excellent, caring doctors, and the patient load increased. In the late 1960s, Dr. Hair underwent open-heart surgery. Never complaining, Dr. Carlton was "on call" 24/7, putting his fishing and sports activities on hold.

For a little respite, he went to LSU-Alexandria campus, asking friends living there to stay by their phones in case one of the nurses called for him to return to the clinic. He needed a short break to play golf or tennis, continuing for six weeks. Ten years later, Dr. Hair had a second open-heart surgery, but Dr. John B. Luke was in partnership and shared the patient load. Dr. Carlton related that he was so glad when Dr. Luke came because he was no longer the "new" doctor in town. Dr. Bruce Roach joined the clinic in the late 1980s and remained until he and his wife went on the mission field to Yemen.

Part 2 continued next month

On the Capitol steps from left are Bob Livingston, U.S. Rep. from Louisiana, Jim Steward, Dr. Davis M. Carlton, and Bob Fry.