[This text is machine generated and may contain errors.]

Speaker 1 [0:03]
An historic landmarks sits along Main Street in Tarboro. Its name etched in stone 11 years before he died, Dr. Milton Douglas Quigless took time from seeing his clinic patients to give the camera a tour of this building as it was back then in 1986. Several years earlier, he had closed the inpatient services because of the government's new and expensive regulations for hospital facilities.

Dr. Quigless [0:32]
Ahead of me, the female ward, most of the patients were women, it's about three times the size of the male ward. I had two semi-private room, private room. I had an X-ray department. And then I had a pharmacy, I had a dispensary where we could patients could get their medicine cheaper than what they could at the drugstore.

Speaker 1 [0:54]
Dr. Quigless came to Tarboro in 1936. He was the only black physician among 6000 blacks living here at the time. It was a time when prejudice ran high and money ran low. Few beds were designated for blacks at the local hospital and few blacks could afford to go there.

Dr. Quigless [1:11]
I did operations in the beds out there, on the kitchen table, all that sort of stuff. And the deliveries my God almighty. What I had to put up with...

Speaker 1 [1:24]
He put up with a lot before the clinic came along. For 10 years he tried to get privileges at Edgecombe County Hospital. Each year they turned him down in 1947 with some money he saved and the rest that he borrowed, Quigless replaced this old fishmarket and built a medical office with a 25 bed, two story hospital.

Dr. Quigless [1:46]
I was always able to beat my payments because the minute that I put this place up here it was filled.

Speaker 1 [1:53]
His wife Helen was both hospital administrator and dietitian. The largest Ward was for women. One woman was so grateful for her treatment, she offered her skills as a seamstress to make up all of the hospitals surgical gowns.

Dr. Quigless [2:13]
This is the operating room. Now we had a partition in here, this here is the scrub pot of the operating room, the clothes, and we have the operating table right here in the center.

Speaker 1 [2:22]
It had been 12 years since Dr. Quigless had performed surgery here, instruments were idle, equipment showed signs of age. But shelves still held supplies as if no one had intended for the hospital to close. Though the patients were gone. The memories lingered.

Dr. Quigless [2:39]
This operating light was uh, I got this from a decommissioned aircraft carrier over at Newport Neuse, Virginia. The same thing applies to [Inaudible] would cost I don't know how many thousands of dollars it would've cost me, but it was declared service and still in the original [Inaudible]. I only had to pay $250 for it.

Speaker 1 [3:04]
Dr. Quigless opened his services to every race. It was 1951, 15 years after he began his practice in Tarboro before a white person sought out his help.

Dr. Quigless [3:15]
That attitude back in those days but I'd been here about, you know, has to be about 5 years. A man came in and I looked in and a white man was back there and I said what are you doing back there? He said damnit to hell this [Inaudible] is killing me, I want some treatment. I let him stay, and that was the beginning.

Speaker 1 [3:36]
His beginning on the road to a career in medicine was not promising. As a child growing up in Port Gibson, Mississippi, He was apparently sickly. His main interest was in going fishing. In those days the future for such a child was bleak. After he finished the fifth grade, his parents gave him a choice.

Dr. Quigless [3:55]
And they came and told me I didn't have to go to school unless I wanted to. What the hell, what'd they want to tell me that? I was going fishing every day, having a good time everybody else in school and I was laughing at the kids. School only went through the ninth grade. And five years later I was at the graduation and each kid was graduating and I was supposed to be there with them and all of a sudden it occurred to me that I had messed up.

Speaker 1 [4:24]
Milton Quigless had made up for his mistake. He earned a high school diploma, a junior college degree and then went on to Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He worked to pay his way through school. One summer while playing the trombone with a traveling minstrel show, he visited North Carolina.

Dr. Quigless [4:43]
It was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. See I hadn't, I had just gotten out of Mississippi coming up through Georgia, there's mountains and everything. I went to Greensboro, went to High Point, Albemarle, a little town back there. I left the show in Danville, Virginia. But I said now one of these days I'm going to finish medicine and I'm coming to North Carolina to practice.

Speaker 1 [5:07]
His practice has made a difference. Evidence hangs on the wall of the clinic. It's evidence of hard work and determination, which has been recognized near and far.

Lewis Ridgeway [5:17]
He was very unusual and very unique. And by this, I say that he got his education when all the odds were against him. And he came to a community that was predominantly white medical staffing, and he bucked the situation. He broke through and became well known and well respected by all people.

Speaker 1 [5:52]
In 1987, the local towns of Tarboro and Princeville celebrated Dr. Milton D. Quigless Day. At that time, he was cited in the United States Congressional Record by noted civil rights activists, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. Before he died, Dr. Quigless gave all of his operating room equipment to the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, for their award winning exhibit on health and healing experiences in North Carolina. It is visited by citizens from the state across the country and around the world. He would be pleased to know that the Quigless Clinic is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Dr. John Brooks [6:38]
He is the only physician that I have ever had any direct contact with who still practiced general practice so generalist medicine. And by no means did everything, literally he did. He did everything from surgery to psychiatry. I mean, he really was a renaissance doctor.

Dr. Milton Quigless Jr. [7:06]
People came from all over to get his arthritis treatment. He would inject them through the veins with a mixture of salicylates, iodine and colchicine, where he got the formula from I don't know, but he would give them this stuff IV. And the arthritis would go into remission very frequently to people who put down the crutches get out of wheelchairs. And it had to do with the patient's faith that he was the instrument that will get them well, and that to me has a lot to do with the art of medicine. He blended the art and the science of medicine as well as anybody I've ever seen or heard of.

Speaker 1 [7:48]
Just months before his death in 1997 at the age of 93, Dr. Quigless continued to practice medicine four days a week on an outpatient basis.

Dr. Quigless [8:00]
I wanted to practice medicine where I would need it. I didn't give a damn what happened, I wouldn't let anything stop me.

Speaker 2 [10:17]
The family and friends of Dr. Milton Douglas Quigless Senior in recognition of his 51 years of medical practice and contributions in the community. Dr. Milton D. Quigless, 83, has always wanted to be a doctor since he witnessed the stillborn birth of a twin in his small hometown of Port Gibson, Mississippi. He graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago. He was a pre med student at Crane College, also in Chicago. In 1934, he graduated from Meharry Medical College. Dr. Quigless made house calls during the early years of his practice, because of segregation laws, he was refused admission to a staff position at Edgecombe General Hospital. But Dr. Quigless, more determined than ever, opened in 1946, his own clinic hospital in Tarboro. He treated both black and white patients then and continues to do so. His wife, Mrs. Helen G. Quigless, was his main support and partner. She built a lot of walls, helping to make his practice a success. Mrs. Quigless assisted her husband by performing a myriad of services. Dr. and Mrs. Quigless together have raised three loving and adorable children. They are Milton D. Quigless, Jr, MD, Helen Quigless and Carol Quigless. Dr. and Mrs. Quigless have five grandchildren. Christine Maryanne, Ashley, Matthew and Lesley and Anita is their daughter in law. Dr. Quigless has accumulated numerous awards, one of which is the President's Award, Franklin D. Roosevelt, for patriotic service and aiding the Selective Service Training Act 1934. Now enjoy as we celebrate Dr. Milton Douglas Quigless Senior Day.

Glennie Matthewson [13:26]
To assemble with us here today, the purpose of which I think has been well publicized, but it's supposed to be a secret to Dr. Quigless, so I can't repeat it now. I guess I'm serving in a dual capacity right now, with the considerate mayor of Princeville and also as a moderator, in my capacity as the mayor's prochairman of Princeville. I'd like to extend the cordial welcome to each and every one of you on behalf of the city fathers and the citizens of Princeville and hope that you have a very pleasant afternoon. Now it's a little hot and I knew I owe a few people an explanation for the friend that called and ask me what type attire I'd be in and I told him I was gonna be very casual. Unfortunately, the committee dialed me last night that they had a boutonniere and I couldn't put a boutonniere on a casual attire. But I assure you it was basically casual or dress as you desire. Now, this afternoon, we'll try to be very brief because dinner will be served hopefully and approximately 3:15 or 3:30, I believe at this point. So what I'd like to do is just move on because I know it's a little hot and everybody's fanning and we'd like for you to be able to move out to some of the other areas. So what I'd like to do is call at this time, Mrs. Carolyn Powell, the mayor of Princeville.

Carolyn Powell [15:04]
Thank you, town of Princeville Proclamation. Whereas, even at a very early age, Dr. Milton D. Quigless recognized his desire to devote his life to the medical profession, and his desire to serve humanity and the prevailing social conditions did not always seem to be compatible. And whereas the absence of facilities to combat the high mortality rate among black [Inaudible] opening of the Quigless Clinic Hospital, in December of 1946 and whereas Dr. Milton D. Quigless has given more than one half century, to providing for the ill, organizing for the disadvantaged, and serving by example, all who have come to know him. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and all the commissions of the town of Princeville, North Carolina, that Saturday, September the 19th, 1987 be declared Dr. Milton D. Quigless Day in the town of Princeville and commanded observance to all who have been touched by his unselfish devotion and generosity, signed and sealed this 24th day of August, 1987. For all the years of dedicated service that you have given to our community and the healthcare that you have given to our community, I present to you this plaque in appreciation, in appreciation of Dr. Milton D. Quigless and appreciation for more than one half century of dedicated service to the residents of Princeville, North Carolina, September 19th, 1987.

Glennie Matthewson [17:16]
Well, at least I kept my promise to not let the secret out. Next, and before introducing the next next speaker, I just like to take this opportunity to suggest to any of the speakers that if you want to you can take a few potshots at doc because over the years he's always taking shots at everybody else. Now's the time to do it, okay. Next we'll have Mr. Zeb Alford, city councilman from the town of Tarboro.

Zeb Alford [17:49]
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the mayor and city council of Tarboro, it gives me immense pleasure to present Dr. Quigless this resolution to honor him for the contributions he may exhibit and medical contributions. Dr. Quigless I present you this resolution and we thank you for all that you do. And just as a personal note, I first got to know Dr. Quigless in the early 50s. I had a very irritating skin allergy and so I bought the home remedies, someone says do this and say go to this doctor and this one would give you some advice. I'll tell you what you do, I knew a good doctor, and he's the best for skin allergies, Dr. Milton Quigless. He doctored me, he cured it has been gone for over 30 years.

Glennie Matthewson [19:19]
Well I'll tell you who is also in that race along with me but who was a very effective person and has proven to be a very effective leader. And that is Tom Bardin, our chairperson for the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners.

Tom Bardin [19:33]
Thank you Glennie, Jean. We appreciate so much opportunity that we all have today to be with you Dr. Quigless. The town of Princeville and your many friends and admirers ought to be congratulated I think for organizing such a wonderful and appropriate event on behalf of your Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Quigless, if I may I'd like to read the following proclamation. Be it known that I, Tom P. Bardin , Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Edgecombe County, do hereby proclaim Monday, September 21st, as Dr. Milton Douglas Quigless Day in recognition of his 51 years of the active practice of medicine in Edgecombe County, and in acknowledgement of his medical accomplishments and dedicated service to his patients, and as appreciation for the unselfish contributions he has made through his energy, ability and interest to the social, civic, political and religious welfare of our counties above and beyond the practice of his profession. His many friends and the citizens of Edgecombe County are urged to honor him on this day, and to wish him good health, long life and continuing success and happiness. With this my hand and the official seal of Edgecombe County, this the 19th day of September 1987.

Dr. Quigless [21:11]
Believe it or not I used to pat him on his head.

Tom Bardin [21:24]
I am truly honored to have this opportunity sir to bestow that small token of our affection. Today, we appreciate many practices and unselfish services that you've rended into the services of our county of the years. Thank you. Thank you so very much.

Glennie Matthewson [21:44]
We'll move on next to one of my fellow Commissioners, and a personal friend of Dr. Quigless and a well known well, I should say renowned musician, Walter Plemmer Jr.

Walter Plemmer Jr. [21:55]
Ladies and gentlemen, thank God for Dr. Quigless. [Inaudible] when we were members in the Marine Corps. There's an article written about him a few years back, especially when he was the legal counsel for the NAACP. It stated that he pleaded five times more cases in the courts than any lawyer in the United States. The thing that struck me another paragraph about him that says one moment he would be trading jokes with the guys on the corner. And then an hour later battling minds with the greatest lawyer in the world. He won all his cases while in the NAACP. And he reminds me, I'm reminded of him when I see Dr. Quigless, that many of you know when you went into his office, he'd keep you laughing the whole time you were there. When he went into his meetings, he battled the greatest mind, the medical mind in the world. He came to Tarboro, my father took me to Dr. Quigless after seeing all the other doctors around they misdiagnosed case, they didn't know what to do about it. There's no known cure. There's no known cure not. Dr. Quigless immediately looked at my swollen knee with a needle stuck in there, drew all the blood out until the knee went down. And he suggested to my father what he was supposed to do. I've said this before. He's an innovator. He didn't follow the trend, stated his books and he said I'm going to try something new. And he did, he made it possible for me to go to college, advised me on getting married and he advised me all through the years not only physically, but socially. That's the physical side and I'm still living and I'm still following his prescription. Although occasionally, I have to go to him because I don't follow his prescription. He has saved my life many times, even yesterday. I think he's laughing about that. A wasp stung me yesterday, I immediately got in my car and went to Dr. Quigless, he gave me a shot and took care of it. Had I not gone directly to some doctor earlier, I may not have been here today. I thank him for that. The other side would be socially. This man was not only interested in me, but all other people from a standpoint of being social. He befriended my family and the families of many more. And all the things that were his he shared with his friends. Many times, he and his wife had us over for every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, every Christmas we'd exchange presents. Whenever they socially went to here to [Inaudible] in Goldsboro, and they went almost every year, we went along with them and we went on vacations including Bermuda, we went a week, they wasn't there. And I have pictures doc that I will give to you. And when he did his last operation in his hospital, before closing up, I have pictures of that that I will give to you, what I want to say that he's not only served as a doctor, but as a friend to the people around. When he had a swimming pool people from all around came around to share it with him. And he shared all of his greatness, I can go on and on. But I'm not going to say that. I'd like to say that Dr. Quigless is that again let me quote, thank God for Dr. Quigless. Alright, most of the people in the United States who are diagnosed as hemophiliacs can only, the only remedy for them was blood transfusions. I have never had blood transfusions since when I first met him I think. And then they were members of the family. But since then, he has kept me going without transfusions and since he's a medical doctor he's going to have to explain that to you.

Glennie Matthewson [27:41]
When listening to Walter I guess I had flashbacks especially when he said the swimming pools. Because my family both my mother and my father. My entire family were very close to doc and his family. In fact, their children along with myself and my sister grew up together. To the point that we spent many times together on various holidays in this particular occasion it calls me to wish that my mother was present because when Walt made that statement, it made me think about one Christmas holiday. When we went over the doc's and it was our turn to go to doc's house on the Christmas holiday for a party. And doc has always been notorious and I should say famous for spicing up the eggnog. On this particular occasion, my mother was basically a non drinker. But she did like and love eggnog and she consumed about four cups of eggnog over at doc's that night. And I noticed she kept wanting to dance and the music didn't seem to be too loud like it normally was. So finally around 1, 1:30 we jumped in the car, myself and four sisters and mother and just as ironically, just as she got right there where Dr. Quigless's clinic is and was heading across the bridge into Princeville, she looked at me she says my God the bridge seems to be getting narrower.

Well doc had known to concoct quite a few things. I'd like to call upon Mr. Roland Clark, a Tarboro councilman and also as a representative of the East Tarboro Citizens League.

Roland Clark [29:43]
[Inaudible] and other members of the committee, to be committed or having to sponsor this affair and especially those on the rare medial occasion, one finds his honor and true purpose. This man has been the true justification of what humanitarian is, so I am honored to be representing the East Tarboro Citizens League. On behalf of the officers and members of the East Tarboro Citizens League, I proudly present this plaque to you. And that's with it so inscribed in the special recognition and appreciation of Dr. M. D. Quigless, Md for 51 years of outstanding medical services to the town of Tarboro, Edgecombe County, in the state of North Carolina, from the East Tarboro Citizens League, September 19th, 1987.

Glennie Matthewson [30:59]
Why don't you come on down cause you weren't here, when I explained, because I told you it was informal, when I expressed in the audience here. I had to put on a suit because I was surprised at the fact that I had to wear a boutonniere. I usually try to compromise but you see my thought [Inaudible]. I'd like to introduce to you, Joe Maverette, local representative.

Joe Maverette [31:22]
Thank you very much. I'm sorry for being late. I was in Raleigh, for the swearing in of the new members to the State Board of the North Carolina Cancer Society. Along with Dr. Ray, I'm serving my second three year term. Moses is up there this afternoon, going through the rest of the introduction and briefings that they give new board members he couldn't sneak away like I could as a person who had been on the board before. I appreciate being here this afternoon. And I did a little research with one of the great historians of Edgecombe County, Mabrey Bass and found out that there's the strange thing about doctors, doctors typically are musical. I know we have a fellow out of Tarboro Clinic that plays a lot of banjo, guitar, and sings and I found out Milton's a trombone player. You just never know what you're gonna come across when you start doing a records check. Coming back from Tarboro at pretty high speeds is the sheriff here. Because I gotta go back the same way. Going back again. I look along the countryside, and I keep seeing these little yellow volunteer daisies. They're all over the state. But the closer you get to Edgecombe it seems, the more we have. And I got to thinking about those daisies, you know, we put up with them all year long, but we don't think much about them. But about three weeks in the fall, they bloom. And they're lovely. And everybody comments on them. And you point them out to friends. Nancy Jane farmer is here this afternoon. She said, she's from Norwood, Stanly County, they don't have any of those up there. She said I just saw fields full of it. And I got to thinking about those daisies. And you all here today and what this day is all about for Dr. Quigless. And I got thinking, you know, Dr. Quigless, is kinda like those daisies. He's been here for so long and done so many wonderful things we kind of take him for granted, except on this particular day when everybody's gonna show up and shout and shake hands and clap, put up banners downtown. But all year long, 51 years, he's done wonderful things here. And he's now as much part of this county as those daisies are. He's a good role model. In a day when we need good role models. I think about the things that Dr. Quigless, Dr. Ray and others have done, it makes me proud to live in a county and have role models like Dr. Quigless. I also did a little bit of research about the his early days in Mississippi and some of the things that he did on the railroad track that led to being a physician and coming here to Tarboro. And I think he is a good role model because he's very, very clearly demonstrated through a whole lifetime how you can do what you want to do, in spite of all the odds if you're willing to work hard for it. And those are the role models that we need, no matter who you are, where you come from, no matter what your color or your creed or your religion, or your national origin. I'm delighted to be here today. I think this day says a whole lot for this community for this county. But most importantly, it says a whole lot about a distinguished professional who has lived in our midst, contributed in one way or another to each one of us, and has birthed a lot of babies in a half a century. Thank you very much.

Glennie Matthewson [36:23]
I'm glad you said birthed a lot of babies, Joe. Not anybody thinks that.

But you know, we're here to show our appreciation for the many many contributions of Dr. Quigless. But it's also in part of recognition of the wife and family as well. And when I say that, it brings to mind another story. But this one didn't involve doc this time. This will involve Miss Quigless. My mother and Miss Quigless would take my sister, and Carol and Helen up to Raleigh to take ballet and tap dancing lessons. So Bro, or Milton Quigless Jr. and myself, would remain home. Well as long as we remain home everything was fine but if you ever allowed my mother and Miss Quigless to drive to Raleigh week after week for four consecutive weeks, they're gonna formulate some new ideas, some plan. And that plan involved Bro and I taking ballet and tap dancing. My mother came back from Raleigh and my sisters were teasing me and Helen and Carol who's gotta take tap dance and so does Bro. We want to see you in ballet and what have its. So they passed the word throughout the community in which at that time this was the original Princeville area and all the boys on the block knew that my mother had made plans for me to take tap dancing lessons so they would wait patiently to see me in a leotard and that [Inaudible]. Here are the boys, or hardly boys. So the next Saturday morning, Miss Quigless and my mother and sisters would leave here to leave Tarboro around six in the morning. So my mother would wake us up at five so she woke up the gang and she hollered Glenn Melvin and I heard it but didn't respond she said Glenn Melvin. I still didn't respond. Little did she know that I was not in the house when she was calling back to my room. I actually and literally hid under the house.

So she hollered for about 10 minutes about this time Miss Quigless pulled up because it was her turn to drive. So she knew she couldn't waste any more time looking for me. So she said well we'll just go home but I'll get that young man straight when I get back and I remember exact those exact words. So then Bro started crying well if Glenn's not going then why have I got to go? So they decided to leave the fellas and the girls left so that's when Bro and I got our heads together. When my mother returned along with Miss Quigless, both of them primr and proper. I got this [Inaudible]. But I'll never forget it. But I laugh at that now. But as I got older and attended college, I really look back and regret that I didn't take dance because I'd probably dance about as well Dr. Quigless can play his trombone. In fact, doc doesn't know it but I got a surprise for him. I got a trombone. We're going to ask him for a little solo later.

Next, and I've noticed everybody has been pretty serious with you doc and I don't know whether you bribed them or knew whether they [Inaudible]. But I've really been hoping somebody would really take a potshot at you and roast you for a while but everybody has really been very good except me. And I'm hoping we can break this trend somewhere along the line. And I'm not a betting man, but I wouldn't let it double down on Mr. Ridgeway. At this time, I'd like to call Mr. Ridgeway, who is retired retired hospital administrator with Edgecombe General which is now Heritage, Mr. Ridgeway.

Lewis Ridgeway [40:37]
I was asked to speak about a minute or two, so if we could go to about 30 minutes, or 30 seconds of silence, I have about a 30 second speech.

By the time I get ready, it's gonna be over with. A lot of nice things said about Dr. Quigless up here. I've known that gentleman about 30 years, six months, two weeks and four days. It's been both an honor and an opportunity for me to know him. It's also an honor and opportunity for me to be here today. It's an honor because he's a good friend. It's an opportunity because in all those years we've known each other we teased each other, he's always gotten the best of me. I'm sure he has you too, But today I hope I can change that a little bit. I think he's goingt to stay quiet while I talk. But to give you an example of how he has gotten the best of me, one day I was walking through the halls of the hospital and he had some of my female employees corralled over in the corner and they look somewhat lovey dovey so I told these girls I says move back away from that man he has a social disease. So they back off and Quig just stood back you know when they looked at him, he looked at me and he says yeah, I got it from his girlfriend. If you didn't notice I came by myself today.

They say there are 25,000 useless words in the English language. And you are now about to hear most of them. Usually we honor people we love, admire, and respect and today is an exception. First all, I wanted to say to you people I don't want the stories I'm going to tell about him told all over the community. I'm telling you these things in confidence because they were told to me in confidence. You know, Helen told me to say something nice about Quig, well, he doesn't shed. You and I go back a long time, Quig. Now I don't deserve the support you've given me over the years. But on the other hand, I'm losing my head I don't deserve that either. Quig [Inaudible] himself many men. I think its time for to him take the blame. We have one major disappointment today. Reverend Jesse Jackson couldn't make it. Quig is a man who always uses his head, he notices little things that really count. He told me the other day that there are two ways to tell if you're getting old. The first is loss of memory and that he couldn't remember the other. Did you know that Quig was a war baby? His parents took one look at him when he was born and they started fighting. You know Quig, at least the battle of the sexes isn't your worry anymore. Whatever Mother Nature gave you Father Time took away. He's at that stage of life when his mind says Go Go Go and his body says no no. Quig was surprised when he when he got a bottle of [Inaudible] for his birthday, he told me that none of his [Inaudible]. Offering people medical advice gives Quig a grand and glorious feeling, you give him the grand and that's what make him feel glory.

I did a lot of research on Quig, that's [Inaudible] is confidential. Quig was really upset last week he answered his telephone and some woman said Is this the gas company? Quig says no this is Dr. Milton Quigless. The woman thought a second said well I didn't miss him much doc. I know the people who worked with Quig would rather be working for the Pope. Then they don't have to kiss his ring. There's a lot of people that didn't believe in Quig and on the other hand, a lot of people believe in the Easter Bunny.

When things go wrong in his office and you can see Quig smile you know, he's just found someone else to blame. We've lost his previous nurse because of the illness she got sick of him. One of his nurses told me that when she got married, she took an oath to love, honor and obey and Quig required the same thing when he employed her. Now I asked Quig for some medical advice not long ago and he told me to give them $100 in advance. He said that would entitle me to two questions. I said two questions for $100 is isn't that rather high? He said yes it is now what's your second question? You know the sign on his office door reads from 10 to 4. Those aren't his office hours those are odds against finding him there. Quig is so naive he heard that someone was having an affair and he wanted to know who was catering. I don't pick on Quigs clothes but I hope he buys himself new bathing suits in the next year, the one he wears now has a hole underneath.

Now Quig can be unduly aggressive, the waitress told him to have a nice day he told her don't tell me what to do. Anyway he does have an even disposition, he's miserable all the time. The only guy I know [Inaudible] sitting down. Quig discovered rather recently that he's superstitious now he doesn't want to work in any week and has a Monday in it. I don't think Quig is one bit worse today than he ever was. I just think we know him better. Quig really doesn't trust anyone. Around the day is going to be my friend and he said he'd had to discuss it with his attorney. Bless his heart, Quig just doesn't have much luck with girls. He was in New York last year. He met this lovely woman invited her up to his hotel suite and told her to make herself at home. So she invited her boyfriend over. You know sometimes doctors need doctors too, and so his doctor told him give up on his sex life. Poor guy doesn't know which one to give up talking about it, or thinking about it. I've talked to some girls who says his lovemaking skills remind him of an intoxicating liquor, Old granddad.

Just remember folks Quig's money is tainted, taints yours and taints mine. When he was up in New York he went to this exclusive department store to buy some perfume to give somebody as a gift. Anyway, the clerk said this brand is $200 an ounce, it's called Perhaps. Quig says for $200 an ounce and I don't want Perhaps I want for sure. I asked Quig what he does with all his money. He says part of it goes to booze, part of it gambling, part of it women. And the rest of it he spends foolishly. Quig is writing his autobiography called sex takes a holiday. Anybody who thinks Quig is running out of gas should go out some night and have Mexican food with him. The last time Quig went for a physical his hands were shaking so badly that his doctor asked him Are you drinking a lot and he says no I spill most of it. When Quig woke up after he had an operation some years ago he asked his doctor why all the blinds in the room were closed. Doctor says there's a big fire across the street and I didn't want you to think the operation had failed and you died.

Some people call him a dirty man. Some people call him an old man. Some people call them a dirty old man. Quig, I like to call you my friend. My friend, if you ever stop sweating in your chair for a minute, would you please stand up by me. I left in this briefcase something that I have in honor of doing. You know as introduced, I'm the retired hospital administrator at the Heritage Hospital. And as my last official duty for Heritage Hospital, it was my pleasure to present you with a plaque from the hospital that says presented by Heritage Hospital to Milton D. Quigless MD, in grateful recognition and appreciation for 51 years of medical practice and service to the community, September 19th, 1987.

Glennie Matthewson [51:46]
Miss Helen Knight, administrative assistant at Quigless Clinic.

Helen Knight [51:49]
It is a special pleasure for the members of the Quigless Clinic staff to wish our boss a happy day. First we would like to thank him for our many years of service with him. These years of service have united us all in one common bond, and that is love. Our boss to us is like music, heard on the war, like pearls in the depths of the ocean. He's like songs of birds singing in the parks. These are just some of the things he means to us. But at times he's late, and you worry about him coming in. When he opens the door, his words echo down the hall. I'm late but I'm the boss. Some bosses call all the shots, some seek out your faults. Some praise in tight spots, some power on the heart, some know you need rest and some bosses like you are simply the best.

Glennie Matthewson [53:25]
See, Sheriff Ellis has arrived. and I'll explain to you again I did say it was informal, you weren't here before, it is informal.

Speaker 14 53:32
You don't know how glad I am that it is informal, I just got in from a series of meetings with some sheriffs across the state. And I didn't have time to find out if I need to wear a shirt and tie so I'm glad that it isn't formal. Dr. Quigless, they are honoring the man here today who has been serving people in this area longer than I've been in this world. I hope and I honestly say this with all sincerity that I'm able as long as God gives me strength to serve the people in this county as well as you have served people in this county and in this area. I think it's very fitting that people are honoring you for all the contributions you have made. And if you are ready to retire sure enough and go to work as a deputy sheriff, please come by to see me. I congratulate you and I think that it is very fitting that they honor you. You have without question served the people in this county well for 51 years and I think it's just worth it.

Glennie Matthewson [54:46]
Next, I'd like to call upon Dr. Hubert Eaton, a representative of the Old North State Medical Society.

Dr. Hubert Eaton [55:00]
Dr. Quigless honoring, ladies and gentlemen, those of you who are here to fill seats on the Dyess to talk about your position of many years. I want you to know that I'm particularly happy to be here today for a number of reasons. One is that I've never heard of the town Princeville, North Carolina. And the other is that I am most happy to know that we have a black mayor here. I'll take the news back to Wilmington, North Carolina. Of course, the other reason I'm here is because I'm particularly happy to be here to honor a man that you have known for a very long time, for many years and who has delivered health care to your community. The early part of this century was a difficult time for Afro American citizens in this nation. In many ways, the injustice of those of us who were living a number of years ago and our forebears, that those injustices were most difficult for us to bear, and they were indeed [Inaudible]. In the area of health delivery, a black doctor could not be trained to be a physician in the state of North Carolina. He or she mostly he at that time, had to leave North Carolina to be trained as a physician. And then when that physician came back to North Carolina, he found very few hospitals opened to him for staffing. Over in Henderson, blacks and I'm sure with the assistance of some of the local white citizens helped to establish Jubilee Hospital. In Raleigh you had St. Agnes Hospital, in Charlotte, Good Samaritan Hospital. Winston Salem there was Kate Bitting Reynolds Hospital, in Greensboro there was L. Richardson Hospital, in Durham there was Lincoln Hospital. There was Community Hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina. Good Shepherd Hospital in New Bern, and there was another hospital, Mercy Hospital. To my knowledge, there was no hospital in New York City here in Tarboro. And if it was from my experience, the medical care would have been provided in a segregated facility. And the there are some doubts as to the quality of care that you would have gotten here in Tarboro, as this was a pattern throughout the state of North Carolina, and all that I can say, I'm able to document. But here in Tarboro, we had a doctor who would not take no for an answer. He knew that even 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 40 years ago, 50 years ago to have an office was not adequate to deliver health care. And so he established and built the Quigless Clinic. You can say what you want to him today, you can thank him as much as you care to thank him. But you really can never thank him enough. It is sad to see in the face of what black people had to face at that time. The sad absence of adequate health care facilities. He was one of a number of persons who recognized the need for a private clinic and I remember in Durham, North Carolina there was a Dr. [Inaudible] who established the clinic in Smithfield, North Carolina, Dr. [Inaudible] in Raleigh, Dr. McCauley. Even in Winston Salem, there was a small clinic that existed for a while, established by a Dr. Ray. Milton, you know, all of these people I'm talking about, you remember them.

This community, as I said a moment ago is very fortunate to have someone with the motivation and with the interest, that Milton Quigless has shown, by having established a facility here in which he could provide health care facilities to you. I have had the pleasure of working with him for a number of years mostly through the Old North State Medical Society, which is the society that black physician had to associate with, prior to the opening of the State Medical Society to black physicians. And I'm sure you have forgotten this. But in 1965, Dr. John Holloman, who at that time was president of the Medical Committee on Human Rights, and yours truly went to Washington. And we spoke to representatives of the government and we discussed discrimination and federally aided medical and hospital programs. You've got to be a doctor to know some of the problems that I know that he had opening up clinics and keeping it open. For you, the citizens of this community. I think you have established the records Milton. I don't know of any other doctor in North Carolina, who has remained in private practice for as long as 51 years. There may be. But I don't know about him and I am referring to the black physicians, because those are the ones that I communicated with. Those are ones that I know. So for this reason, if no other, you deserve a special commendation, and it is my pleasure to be here today and participate in this honor that has been extended to you by your patients. And I would imagine that there's hardly five people in the room with whom you have not at one time or the other delivered health care. I congratulate you and I want to give you some advice. You can close your clinic. But don't stop practicing medicine, cut back, but don't stop. If you stop and go home and start in your rocking chair, you're not going to be here very long.

Glennie Matthewson [1:03:09]
If doc should be dumped over into the pool, please raise your hand. Much to my surprise doc, they seem to be in [Inaudible].

I'd like to introduce the next speaker of Joe Dickens, do an oversight and was not not on the program. Joe, this is one time you can fault my other half.

Joe Dickens [1:03:53]
Those of us that have been associated with the education system and with children and truly understand the need and desire for children number one to have role models. And number two for a child at an early age to establish an ambition, a goal and life. And when we heard about this day, the Edgecombe County Board of Education immediately said that this is that role model that every child needs to pay attention to. And it would only be a plus to us that we send a resolution honoring your honoree. Dr. Quigless, this resolution reads, whereas Dr. Milton Quigless Sr. seen as served the people from Edgecombe County over 50 years to his medical practice. And whereas it says Dr. Quigless has been honored for this outstanding service to the people of the county. And whereas to his knowledge ability, leadership, concern and dedication, he has contributed greatly to the cause and purpose of improving medical care for county residents. And whereas it says that Dr. Quigless through his medical practice in life has been a role model and I'm thankful for students and employees of the Edgecombe County School System to emulate now, therefore it be resolved by the Edgecombe County Board of Education, that through the adoption of this resolution, the said board has expressed deep gratitude for the exceptional services rendered by Dr.Quigless. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting, and a copy of the delivered to Dr. Quigless. This, the eighth day of September 1987, signed by Lynn Boyette, Chairman, Lawrence Brett, Vice Chairman, Charlie Cobb, member, Johnny Nava, member, Jasper Proctor member, Joe Dickens, member and Leon Hall secretary to the board. Thank you.

Glennie Matthewson [1:06:12]
I guess we really need to move right along because I think that people here are prepared to serve you. And I'm gonna tell you I know that two people at this table that love to eat, that's Dr. Quigless and my wife and neither one seem ton gain [Inaudible]. But at any rate, I'd like to call upon our next speaker who was a classmate of Dr. Quigless and that is Dr. J. S. Simmons.

Dr. J.S. Simmons [1:06:39]
Just before I say anything our moderator, he's done alright. Well, the one thing you know they say lawyers are big liars. I don't think he has any exception. A lot of people, about four or five times I've heard them say, you know, we said he was gonna be in [Inaudible] but you know, my wife said [Inaudible]. What a big lie. He just wanted to show his new white suit. I heard this through the grapevine, a little bird told me, his wife told me. Now look here, if you going to moderate on this great occasion. You look like a moderator. You put the suit on and he put it on. It's a great pleasure for me to be here. It's a great pleasure to have heard Hubert Eaton and what he would say in such [Inaudible] about the problems that black physicians had have over the years in trying to obtain an education. It also was interesting to me to have to Mr. Ridgeway lay so much stuff on old Quig.

Apologize, not apologize by a totally high word. We've been told that this occasion was very informal, dress very casual. You see, I'm very casual. There's so many guys around here in college, looking all clean and prepped. But nevertheless, that's all right. A lot of them had bad scripts, which they were reading was awesome. I don't have any prepared script. Because I go back a long way with this boy. I practice medicine down in Sanford for about 47 years but I retired 8 years ago. But that's not because I was so old but Quig was helping me in my [Inaudible]. With the way he finished in my class, I have to tell it all. Because it's true. He was ahead of me when we started one year and we finished together. I thank God for that because he was a great inspiration. And it wasn't because he was dumb because he was a bright guy I'll tell you that. He was the smartest guy that ever went to Meharry Medical College. But Quig was catching hell. I mean financially Quig had to drop out a year to finish medical school. What Hubert told is true. My state Georgia, Mississippi Quig's state and certain other states brother you just got it on your own if you got a medical education because you could not get it in the state school, which you were paying taxes and things support yet you couldn't go to school there, but North Carolina did do a little better. Another southern state. They would underwrite a certain amount of money to any black North Carolinian who went to medical school either Meharry or [Inaudible]. And we used to feel he didn't like these guys, North Carolina did have some extra change that the State gave him. We didn't have none. We had only one thing, brain. Well, he had more than we got. I go back a long way with Quig, I go back longer than anybody in his house, I go back long enough before he met his wife. So I'm curious Helen is not here. We really go back we go back as I told you. He was a freshman. He was a sophomore when I was a freshman. So that will we go back about say 1930, because our class was the class of 1934. Quig had to get some money to finish. But nevertheless, that was a great pleasure to me to be associated with Quig, because Quig was brave. And he has done a great work. And he has been greatly admired. I have come up in his place in a number of times on the Fourth of July, on the farm when they would have this annual thing my wife and my children, along with his children in this [Inaudible]. My wife, along with Mrs. Quigless and [Inaudible] wife Margaret, they brought their children to Raleigh to take dancing lessons. And we had two girls, along with the our children, some of your children, and some of them other people's children, and I had two boys. And boy, George especially, George not like dancing, and he was like you were, but nevertheless, he stayed in it for about a year and finally got out. But we have been through all those experiences. It's been a great pleasure for me to been associated with Quig and nobody at school ever called him anything but Quig. That's all we knew was Quig. But if I would say just two things, I think would very well speak for his entire life. And I'd like to take it from two poets. One William Cullen Bryant, who wrote Thanatopsis, and other was Rudyard Kipling who wrote If. In some fine [Inaudible] I would say this, as Cullen Bryant had said, to hide the great men were not attained by sudden flight. But they while their companionship were told in upward in the night. Quig taught hours, long hours to try to get to the place in the pinnacle where he finally reached in order to serve the people of this community and for that, I'm sure it was crazy. The other two, when you tell the truth tell it like a kid. The other is Kipling, Rudyard Kipling's If. If you can walk with kings and never lose common touch you be a man my son. This guy really figured the league, just walked with big shots. He had walked with Kings, he'd walk with the hash of the land, yet not one of you can say that he ever got so high that he couldn't stoop. Yes, and I am not going to plagiarize. That was Kipling's If. This man yet, he's still high in the seven. He's had his head in the clouds, but his feet planted on the ground. And he has done great things. Quig actually is actually if we go back so far together, and I could sit up here and tell you a lot of stuff that will run out his guilty side. But I'm not going to do that. I will tell you that he is a good boy. What I'd like to say is the other day about three or four weeks ago, his son met a friend of mine from Sanford, this boy is a lawyer and have a prosecution partner in Raleigh. And stuff the same reason he mentioned Dr. Simmons in Sanford. Brother, Quig's son, Dr. Quigless, Milton Quigless, Jr.

[Inaudible]

Brother's wife said something about Dr. Simmons and this rascal said Dr. Simmons yeah, I know him. Is he still living?Yeah, he's living he played golf with me yesterday and beat me up. But anyway, I know I was long and I'm up here first fine, but honestly, this is a pleasure. Quig, yeah, they told me three minutes, but actually those people spoke more than three minutes. God's been a long way. And as you walk slowly down the path of life to eternity. All of us. We hope the remainder of your life will be with enjoyment and with the knowledge and understanding that you have been dedicated to.

Glennie Matthewson [1:16:58]
I'm gonna try to move right along, a little behind here. First of all, Dr. Quigless would you please stand. In the absence of Congressional Representative John Lewis. I'd like to just read this and present it to you. And also apprise you of the fact that he's informed us that this will be read into the Congressional Record. Congressional Representative Lewis from Atlanta, Georgia. Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, presented to Milton D. Quigless, September the 19th 1987, member of Congress, John Lewis.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the members of the family. Seated, to the left, and to my left and the left for his wife, Mrs. Helen Gordon Quigless of Washington DC. Seated next to her, is her brother Fred Gordon. Next to Dr. Gordon, on the left at the end of the table, Helen Quigless. To my right, I have at the far end of the table. Doc's nephew, Dr. Charles Quigless. Seated next to Dr. Quigless is Reverend Jordan and Eastern Star Church in Tarboro. Next to him is also that no dancing, Brother, Milton Quigless and a phone number of the boss who is the spouse, Anita Quigless. Next to her would be my wife and law partner, roommate. I won't be too late at this point in time. But I would ask Dr. Quigless Jr. to come forward and make some rapid remarks.

Dr. Milton Quigless Jr. [1:19:28]
We will try to be brief. And I would hope that the good attorney is not nearly being a ruling. You'd like to see some results. Most of you already know the accomplishments of my dad and I'd like think out loud a minute to see why he might have done these commendable things. By hearsay, my understanding is that in 1905 a very skinny little boy, born at home in Port Gibson, Mississippi, the Reverend and Mrs. John Cleveland. Reverend John was an AME Zion minister on Sunday, handyman through the week, and his wife helped him by selling hot commodities such as that. That was my grandma. The little boy was plainly undistinguished. He was so skinny that about a fifth grade he dropped out of school because everybody thought and being so skinny, he was gonna die anyways, and why bother? So his older brother, Charlie quit school in the early grades, because he had an ear infection that had an odor to it, and they teased him about, that was Uncle Charlie. Uncle Johnny quit school because he could have more fun not being in school that's Charles's father. His older sister Virgil, she died in an early age. His younger sister Selma known to most of you was more ambitious, she finished school. And many of you know Aunt Ruth, who passed away recently, here in Tarboro. Then, while not being in school the little boy had a good time, he played all day, fished, kept lying around the house. By the time he should have been in eighth grade, there was nobody left to play with because they went to school. So Uncle Charlie had left Mississippi to seek his fortune in Chicago. Being bored, the little boy felt like he ought to go back to school, but he was embarrassed because he missed so many years that he'd be in class with children so much younger than himself. But as luck would have it, a playmate and a Catholic gentleman tutored him over several month period, such that he caught up with his class and returned to school. It was amazing that he did well in school. So that despite meager resources, parents in and out of the road to Oracle College, which was then a boarding high school, he went to the end of the road there, learned certain things like stealing chickens and remained

in school by playing the trombone for the school band and such things as that. During World War One, segregation implied that the best of the black lines could only teach. That's about all a smart colored person could do back then was teach. But Alcorn had very extraordinary teachers at the time where they had to learn Shakespeare, classical music, mathematics, for people who really enjoyed that kind of thing, because it was an escape from the grim realities of the time. For most folks finishing Alcorn was about all you could do back then. But remember Uncle Charlie had gone to Chicago and had a good job, and a house, wife. So despite some opposition, Uncle Charlie let my dad stay at his house and go to high school at Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, where he had to pay for his cost of living by working after school and on weekends on the railroad. If he quit school or failed to keep a job he'd be put out Uncle Charlie's house. But during the week he cleaned train cars for the Milwaukee Railroad, on weekends he went out on the railroad as a porter and that got him through high school and junior college in Chicago. Prohibition was an opportunity to smuggle liquor in from Canada on trains and make a little extra money. He saved money and got himself situated to go to medical school. The chose Meharry over the University of Minnesota because the considerations had to do with the weather. At Meharry he always remained in the top 10 of his class. He worked at Vanderbilt University Hospital kitchen as a dishwasher, continued to play his trombone in dance bands, continued to work on the railroad during vacations. During the summer 1932, the railroad to Texas broke his liquor smuggling ring and marked up everybody but he got away. But the custom was to payoff the judge and everybody would get out. So he did that. That took all his school money, which is why he couldn't go to school in 1932.

But in time, everything as you can see worked out. Well. Let me tell you, it's very clear that my dad is very smart. He has God given intelligence. He was born smart. He's very cunning. He developed the cunning necessary to steal a man's chicken. Get the man to help find him some greasy to fry the chicken in and he and his brother Johnny would probably try to sell the man some fried chicken. You take the hint. I think he might have gotten that cunning from Uncle Johnny, who with a fifth grade education lived very comfortably. And I think Charles would agree that Uncle Johnny never did what you and I would call work. Another thing about my dad is that people liked him. Do you think he would have gone far in this world without being liked? If people like you they'll help you along if you can demonstrate ambition. In most instances when my dad is mentioned people do smile, you can be smart, cunning, all kinds of things but when people don't like you, you'll find those close you'll find stumbling blocks in your path. Years ago, he didn't like turning the care of his patients over to white doctors when they needed hospital admission. So he built his own. He did that out of necessity for the care of his patients because he felt that he would treat him just as good or better than anybody else. Especially if he had his own facility built. He says that he wanted the best for his patients and that's probably the key to his success. He wanted the best for patients, for the family right on down the line. So there he is, born in 1905. Now he's 39 on fan he's going on to age 85. That's my dad.

Glennie Matthewson [1:25:56]
I was going to, Bro seems to have taken uh done my next job and that is to recognize and introduce the honoree I think Bro's given us a basic background. So with that, I'll call doc to the podium with the understanding that if you are delayed beyond any reasonable period of time from eating your dinner, you can attribute it to Dr. Quigless.

Dr. Quigless [1:26:49]
[Inaudible] to see all you folks out there honoring me. I don't feel that I have done anything that requires a lot of [Inaudible]. I just try to do my job. I'm just a little poor boy from Mississippi who said he want to be a doctor. I finally made it through. I was so keen on becoming a doctor. I took the first town that I saw, Tarboro. I had some setbacks, I came here with $7 in my pocket and that turned into $1 before Mr. Clarence Johnson helped me by underwriting a loan loan from the bank for $250. $250, that got me excited but of course later on things got so tight when I got [Inaudible] in that I couldn't help the people who really needed help. I was able to get a loan and build a hospital. So now see I just haven't have given appreciation, or thanked the people who really helped me, who really helped me a lot. It seems if you would move forward, you have to turn around and look back every now and then. I look back at these things and seen the help that they have given me. People who cooperated with me, allowed me, pat me on the back when I had bad days, encouraged me with [Inaudible] over their bills depending on how much it was, if it was over $5 they'd pay me part of it. Anyway, I've been able to make it. First all though, I want to acknowledge one of the most important things in my life, back when I married this lady here, Miss Helen Gordon from Washington DC.

I had a lot of ideas in mind but I wondered how in the world to carry this thing through. I was talking to her about situations and she did as much as she could to encourage me to go ahead and try what I was trying to do. When I'd come in all beat up in the middle of night [Inaudible] sometimes that's our debrief and then I hadn't been going to sleep that night. All night we'd have our debrief and she was encouraging, and when we thought about opening the hospital or when the hospital was opening, I had to depend on her. Her stamina. Things that helped to keep me along. She saw me through a lot of dark days. [Inaudble]. She was an administrator as I might call it, she worked at the hospital the first three or four years and thank God for Helen when we started having children coming along. She had to divide her time between the hospital and children, which was sort of bad but she did admirably, but she did a good job and I want everybody to know that if I've been able to do anything at all, if I've been able to make any progress, some of it may have been up here, but a lot of it was the encouragement and the inspiration that I got from my wife.

I tell you I would like to take a few minutes to speak about my employees. For the first time when I first got to Tarboro I told you I didn't have no practice at all, didn't have no money, no nothing but I opened my hospital, my office right inside the abandoned fish market right on the edge of Tar River. [Inaudible]. I didn't have a receptionist and I ended up doing everything on my own. So young lady came in there one day and says doc I want a job as a receptionist. I said well I would like to hire you but I don't have no money to pay you. She said well I'll work along and when you get money you can start paying me. That lady worked there for me for six seven years. It's Lucy Brown, Lucy stand up there [Inaudible].

She came in and she worked diligently. In about six weeks later [Inaudible]. Well back in those days were doing pretty good. Now going on down the line, I think about people who helped me so much. Ms. Beeman, Ms. Beeman you stand up there.

My nurses [Inaudible] you know when you were [Inaudible] with ether. Let me tell you something you didn't have to do nothing you'd be creative because you see, you start operating and they start struggling. If they get too damn violent you start giving them ether.

Now that we have [Inaudible]. I can't think of all these names I know Ms. Herrington. She's one of my secretaries. There she is. Now uh, Ms. Helen Knight, Ms. Knight. She's my administrator. [Inaudible]. We've come a long way together. I would call her my right arm if I was left handed now she my left hand. Now Mrs. Smith did she come along this time? [Inaudible].

I've been here two or three years as the Old North State Medical Association. At that time Dr. [Inaudible] said we had a very long way to go. They weren't admitting any medical students, we weren't admitted to the North Carolina Medical Society. We had to do it on our own. [Inaudible]. And it was Dr. Eaton, the advances we made today are due to the efforts of Dr. Eaton, Dr. Harmon and a lot of people like him. [Inaudible]. We couldn't get into a medical assocation because we had to join the North Carolina Medical Association and they had a clause that said white only.

So we had to type that thing Dr. Simmons and Dr. Eaton. I was able to be with the committee who met with the committee of the North Carolina Medical Association. We told him we want to be admitted to the hospital and basically asking to get rid of that clause and discussion with the with that committee one of them got up and said I don't know what I do if a black doctor asked my wife to dance and we can't eat at the same table too now that's all it is to it. I know plenty of doctors in New York who had a meeting and this colored doctor was able to have his family, had a picnic basket, they'd go up and dance and [Inaudible] and we insisted on him Dr. Eaton was, this guy let me tell you something, he was outspoken and had consistence on what he'd do, what he was looking for. We wouldn't have had today, we wouldn't been able to do what we were be able to. This man grudgingly they gave us a scientific membership. That means you guys can come in on [Inaudible]. We had two guys in North Carolina tha we accepted back in those times [Inaudible] but anyway we had our full membership and we've gotten a full membership everything was going along fine, nobody has been upset by it so now going on just as it is without any trouble. I'm not going to say too much clamor here [Inaudible] When I got here, I got my practice in August of 1936. The first baby I delivered was miss, she is now Mrs. Martha Bullock Armstrong. Martha are you here?

[Inaudible] But I delivered lots of children in that family and [Inaudible] but anyway, I delivered her and their babies [Inaudible]. Second generation. [Inaudible].

Miss Martha, her son was a quick baby. Now my last baby here too. They gave me a heck of a lot of children for delivery. So I asked her to name the baby after me, his name is Milton DeBrew. Where's that boy he needs to stand up here. That's the last baby I delivered. Where's he at?

Helen, you made [Inaudible] she's a librarian in the city of Washington and she had to stop the job come home because of the infirmities that she developed but she's gone on anyway, she's made a name for herself. Now you know about Bro, Milton Jr. We call him Bro. He did pretty well. He went to Meharry, he had a residency in surgery. And he went into surgery before he decided to begin practicing [Inaudible]. At same time I think [Inaudible] big mouth too. The Wake County Medical Conference. Carol and [Inaudible] couldn't be here today, she's out in California. And she had [Inaudible] she had been inaugurated, she's done pretty well. Of course. I could tell you a lot about her, the good things she did, but we just don't have time, but I want you to know, that if it hadn't been for Helen, I wouldn't have been in a I wouldn't been able to build a hospital around here, sometimes she'd [Inaudible]. But I want you to know, what I want you to know that I really appreciate this gathering. I really appreciate the effort. I'm thankful to know what I've been able to do has been beneficial. Thank you.

Glennie Matthewson [1:41:12]
Immediately after the blessing, I would ask that the members of the head table come around in the serve in the rear of the chair. After which the other starting with the table to my extreme left with follow up, then the second table, third, and fourth, the and then you can make your way around the table on both sides. There will be food and refreshments and those that have a taste for some beer that will be up on the left side here at the front of the table. At this time I'm calling upon Reverend Joyner for a blessing.

Reverend Joyner [1:41:45]
Oh god, our maker and our creator. He just knows us better than we know ourselves. We thank you for this tentative service. We thank you for giving Dr. Quigless the strength to help and to bless those who he had last to be a public servant to help mankind. We thank you for this day and your sunshine. Now we ask you to bless this food we are about to take on. We pray that You would bless it that it may be strengthened for our bodies, our minds. Bless this fellowship that we're having that it may direct us in a path that will lead us to be, for in Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Speaker 2 [1:42:54]
After the presentation of awards, dinner was served. Dinner catered by Abrams was delicious. There was fried chicken and BBQ just to name a few. Dr. Milton D. Quigless Senior and family were surrounded by 300 friends, relatives and colleagues for the gala affair. And despite the hot weather, everyone enjoyed the ceremony honoring Dr. Quigless. We asked Milton Quigless Jr. What he would say to his father

Dr. Milton Quigless Jr [1:43:32]
It's the most unusual circumstance for a black person out on this side to live to be 83 years old with the kind of success that my father has achieved. And I'm sure that the example of his life would be something that other people can look at in the future as people go on. I certainly could not have been more lucky than to be his son if I had the opportunity to choose parents I'd go live their way again. So clearly, it's a great day, hopefully everyone will get home safely.

Speaker 2 [1:44:05]
Again, we would like to congratulate Dr. Milton D. Quigless Senior for 51 years of outstanding accomplishments.