Download [Page] [Document]
mcc-bc1-405

---

The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 391

---

Dr. Whitaker had one of the first (in the Huntsville area) X-ray machines and the first deep therapy machines, which was used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. He became well known and sought out because of his successful treatment of cancer. In addition, Dr. Whitaker continued to be a teacher??"he conducted formal classes to instruct nurses. One of the nurses he taught was Miss Ann Schrader. She was a registered nurse who worked as night supervisor at the Huntsville Hospital and did private duty nursing. In 1949 Dr. Whitaker recognized the need for more hospital space and opened the Whitaker Clinic on Fifth Avenue (now Governor's Drive). In 1954 it was expanded and the name was changed to Fifth Avenue Hospital. Twenty years later it was purchased by Huntsville Hospital. Two years after the death of Cora Buford Whitaker in 1950, Dr. Whitaker married “Miss Ann” Schrader. She became his chauffeur after she retired from nursing and drove him wherever he needed to go, regardless of the hour. Miss Ann recalled her husband, saying he was compassionate and never too busy to listen attentively to a patient. She recalled one occasion when “Dr. Zeke” informed the mother of a very sick little boy that he had appendicitis and needed immediate surgery. When the mother forlornly replied that she had no money, Dr. Whitaker asked her if she were thinking of money or her child's life. He performed the surgery and never gave a thought to being paid. Dr. Whitaker was 80 years old when he retired. He died seven years later in 1977. 391 - (4424)    

---