Dr. Harry P. Ward


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Mar 11th, 2008

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  • Death Date: Mar 11, 2008

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Biography: Harry P. Ward, former Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), died March 11th, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Betty Jo; 2 brothers: Lester Lowe Ward and wife Rosalind from Denver, Colorado and John Vernon Ward and wife Donna from Pueblo, Colorado; 5 marvelous children and their spouses: Stewart (Margaret), Leslie (Proctor Jones), Elizabeth (Ken Land), Mary Alice (Jim Rickert), and Amy (Ron Amstutz). He’s also survived by 8 vigorous grandchildren: Christopher, Harry, Alice, Stewart, Robert, Elizabeth, Audrey and Celeste. Dr. Ward was born in Pueblo, Colorado, June 6th, 1933. He graduated from Princeton University (magna cum laude 1955), the University of Colorado Medical School (gold headed cane awardee 1959), and trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology at Bellevue Hospital in New York City and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He returned to Colorado University Medical School in 1963 and served as Chief of Medicine at the Denver VA Hospital (1967-72) and then Dean of the College of Medicine and Associate Vice President for Health Affairs from 1972-78. In 1979 he was appointed Chancellor of UAMS and served until retirement in 2001. He received Honorary Degrees from Kaohsiung Medical College in Taiwan in 1991 and Lyon College in Batesville Arkansas in 2001. His career at the University of Colorado was very exciting. He and Betty Jo actively recruited new Chairman for virtually every department. Together, he and his staff expanded the College of Medicine and established family medicine training programs throughout the state. He also assisted in a dramatic expansion of the Research base and the concept of centers of excellence with the Davis Institute for Gerontology, Kennedy Child Development Center, Colorado Regional Cancer Center, Groen Institute of Pathobiology (Aspen, Colorado), and the Organ Transplant Center. In 1979 the Wards came to Arkansas. With the assistance of the newly elected Governor Bill Clinton, vigorous legislative support, and state-wide community leadership, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences made dramatic changes in all areas. Dr. Ward served on many regional and national boards. He served as chairman of the board of the Association of Academic Health Centers, a nonprofit organization of more than 100 Academic Health Centers in the U.S. and Canada. He was very active in a variety of community and state activities including the United Way of Pulaski County, the March of Dimes, Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled, and Future-Little Rock. He served on many Governor’s committees including the Arkansas Health Resources Commission and the Health Care Access Council. He was cofounder of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, the Jones Eye Research Institute, and the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging. During his career, Dr. Ward received numerous honors including the Business and Professional Leadership of the Year Award from the Rotary Club or Little Rock, the Minority Education Award from the Student Medical Association, the Alumni Leader of the Year Award from the Class of ‘55 of Princeton University, the William F. Rector Memorial Award for distinguished civic achievement, the Tradition of Caring Award from the Visiting Nurse Association of Arkansas, the 1997 Citizen of the Year Award from the March of Dimes, the first Arkansan-of-the-Year Award by the Arkansas Times 1998, the 2000 Distinguished Service Award from the Arkansas Hospital Association, the Dale Bumpers AHEC Leadership Award 2000, and the Man of the Year by the Arkansas Kidney Foundation in 2000. The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees adopted a special resolution to honor Dr. Ward for his leadership on the occasion of dedicating the new clinical tower of University Hospital on October 21, 1997. The resolution cited his role in reshaping the campus through new academic, research, and clinical programs and for implementing a vigorous building campaign on campus -- including the tower. To honor him, the trustees named the new facility the Harry P. Ward Tower. He was appointed Chancellor Emeritus by the Board of Trustees in November 2000. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no service. Visitation will be at Pleasant Valley Country Club from 4-6 P.M. on Friday, March 14th. Memorials may be made to the Harry P. Ward Chancellor’s Chair UAMS or Friends of KLRE-KUAR.

Condolences(29)
ed dugan
#29
Jul 24th, 2023 10:11 am
I worked with Harry directing the campaign for the cancer center, I remember we received an offer of a naming gift from Frank Higginbotham, founder of This Can't Be Yogurt. (TCBY) Harry turned the gift down because he didn't think Frank's last name was dignified enough. We finally got a couple from North Arkansas to replace the gift.
Nancy Holcomb Jones
#28
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo and my dear Ward cousins,
You have been close in mind and heart ever since I heard the news of Harry's passing. I am sending many healing prayers your way, and will always cherish the memories of our times together. Beyond Harry's phenomenal wisdom and energy, I will most remember his insightful wit, and most of all his infinite capacity for kindness. He raised the bar for all human beings.
Nancy (Holcomb) Jones
#27
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo and all my dear Cousins,
I was deeply saddened by the news of Harry's death, and I am keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. I always knew Harry was a great man, but aside from his phenomenal wisdom and energy, I was most impressed by his humor and infinite kindness. It has been a privilege to be part of the same family and to know what a huge difference he has made in the world.
Love to you all,
Nancy
Michael Doppler
#26
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I have great memories of Dr. Ward, from the tennis lesions he gave me, to when he would take us to the local pool on visits, and the way he treated me like I was a respectable person, and at 11 or 12, that didn't happen that often. I remember when I went to dinner at the Ward's, and Dr. Ward and Betty Jo were a great pair, and I can't imagine that not in existence anymore.
William M. Marine
#25
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Betty Jo: I recall with such fond memories you and Harry and how you welcomed me to Colorado as Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine in 1975. And then there were the many meals you had at your home. I have thought of you and Harry often and was so glad that you had such a happy and fulfilling experience at Arkansas. My heart goes out to you at this time of grieving.
Sincerely, William Marine, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics
President UCHSC Retired Faculty 2005-2007
Henry (Hank) Romero
#24
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo, Although it has been many years since we have seen each other, I still feel that out time spent together in high school are very fond memories and I want to express my sincere sympathy to you and your family for the loss of Harry. I think most of us who knew Harry, feel this loss as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Ted and Margaret Eickhoff
#23
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
We remember Harry from former days at the University of Colorado with great fondness; I have always wished that our paths might have crossed further after he left for Arkansas. Regrettably, that was not to be. Our deepest sympathy, Betty Jo.
John and Lois
#22
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo and Family, We were so sorry to hear the news of Harry's passing. I seems as if it was only yesterday we joked and made light of things at our high school class reunion. We, like everyone, will miss Harry and consider it a privilege having you and Harry as friends. Love,
Celia Phillips Mitchell
#21
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo and Family, My heart goes out to you. It was so good to read about both of you in the last newsletter. You two were very special people to me in high school and since whenever we had news of you. I send this with sincere sympathy and LOVE.
Jerry Starika
#20
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I feel a great loss upon learning of Harry Ward's passing. Harry was one of my closest friends while growing up in Pueblo. He served as my best man at my wedding to Joan in September 1955. My condolences to Betty Jo and family. Harry possessed a tremendous drive in setting goals and achieving them. The greater the challenge, the more committed he was to accomplishing it. His successes and achievements in all that he was able to envision and accomplish as Chancellor at the University of Arkansas Medical Center is a testament to his dedication to humankind. In my opinion, Harry Ward was the educational, inspirational and spiritual leader of the Central High School Class of 1951.
Bob Frantz & Family
#19
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Hi Betty Jo & Family. Harry was a Great Father, Husband, & Grandfather, we will all miss him very much. Both of our Familys did great things together , School, C hurch, & Mom working foryour Dad later in life. I will always cherish the memories, Our thoughts are with you in this hard time.
John M. Negomir
#18
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
My condolences to all of Harry's family, Betty Jo, Lester, and Jack. It was a privilege to have known him during our formative teen years. He helped me appreciate the value of a liberal education, in the days before "liberal" became a four-letter word. Harry showed us all how to lead a purposeful life. May his memory be eternal.
robert c. maize
#17
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Betty Jo,

May the great spirit of all in this cosmic adventure we take bring the blessings and glory to you and yours in knowing the great gifts that Harry gave to the art of healing, the art of living and the gift he gave me in junior year at Central of the inspiration to believe in myself with the respect he had for himself and you.

I know that you may not have known this but I spoke to Harry once about it when I called when he was still at the University.

As they say "he was on of a kind" The medicine he gave to me was spiritual even before he became a Doctor.

The love you showed me in the beginning that you and he had was part of it.

it inspired me in the pursuit of my love of the arts and the desire for knowledge,

So Be kind and gentle with yourself and know the joy of your family with the Zen of peace and wisdom of all who were touched by Harry.

just an old classmate robert c. maize
From way back when.
Olivia and Fred Guggenheim
#16
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo,
We have shed many of tear over Harry's passing. I so wished we could have had that lunch together when we were in town on Friday, Feb 1 and Harry had said that he wanted to drive by to pick me up at the med center after I'd given a psychiatric grand rounds...(even though Dodd told me there wasn't any chance at all that he could get that far).
Harry had such a can do attitude, he was indomitable. He will always be one of the most memorable characters I've ever met.
We offer our sympathies at the loss of a great, kind man. New Year's Eve has never been the same without being with you two.
With our love, Fred and Olivia
Norman McCaul
#15
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Thank you Harry for all your wonderful accomplishments and most of all just being a friend over all of these years. GodSpeed..

Norm
Jack & Nancy Chick
#14
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Betty Jo,
Sorry to hear of the Death of Harry. It was a shock to me as I had email from him just 1 month ago. You have our deepest sympathy.

Jack and Nancy
#13
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Mary Cantrell
#12
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dr. Ward was a bright spot in my day when I got to see him at UAMS. He will really be missed.
Michael Lewis and Dr Mary Jo Shaver Lewis
#11
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Ed Carson
#10
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dr. Ward was a great man. Arkansas was blessed to have him serve UAMS for so many years.
Doug Allen
#9
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
John Pollock, thank you for making me aware of this. And I'm so glad I was in Little Rock in early January to see Harry and Betty Jo. (While I live in the Chicago area now, I was raised in Pleasant Valley in Little Rock.)
I was so blessed to know Harry, and though these things can sound like fluff, it's true that this is a loss for all who knew him, as well as for Arkansas and for the medical profession.
Ward family, you are not alone.
Doug Allen
Ron Lanoue
#8
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Betty Jo and Children ---

I posted this on the Arkansas Times blog yesterday as my brief reflection on your husband and father:

What an incredible loss to his family and the state. I worked for Harry in his early years as Chancellor and watched him change a backwater institution into the gold standard of international health care. He was the man with the golden arm. His intelligence, charm, insight and tenacity brought both state and private resources to bear on the seemingly intractable problems of advancing health care and training of the states providers of that care. There was never a budget figure passed in front of him that he ever forgot, but he could not remember phone numbers - an amusing aspect of his steel trap mind. In much of his Chancellorship he weekly attended to patients in the hematology clinic, his specialty. That personal touch and compassion were a hallmark of his life. His life and work truly changed for the better the health and welfare of the people of Arkansas. He was a real mensch!

Tisha Doppler
#7
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dr. Ward was truly a great man. Intelligent, thoughtful, and very personable, with a wonderful side of a fabulous sense of humor. It was an honor to know him and I will miss him greatly.
Lucy Abraham
#6
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Our state has been blessed to have such a fine man to enhance our medical community. He will be remembered with great admiration by our family.
Rickey Williams
#5
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Amy and Ward family, I am so sorry for your loss. Dr. Ward and I served on the ATSA board together.
Carmelita Smith
#4
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
So sorry to learn of Dr. Ward's death this morning. The news hit me in the "gut" and left me with quite an empty feeling. Dr. Ward was Chancellor when I was hired as the first Diversity Manager for UAMS. He and his Cabinet had approved the new position. In addition to having a great mind, he was certainly a "people person" which helped him greatly in his outstanding career, I am sure. He believed in the worth and dignity of every human being and wanted to see a Diversity Process implemented across campus at UAMS. I will never foget him or you. You were both so very supportive of me. My love always to you and your family, Betty Jo.
As ever,
Carmelita Caruth Smith
UAMS Manager of Diversity
John and Tina Coffin
#3
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
With our heartfelt condolences to Betty Jo and family.
Jon and Donna Wolfe
#2
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
We are very saddened to learn of Dr. Ward's death. We remember his many kindnesses and his unique example of academic leadership. Our sincere condolences to Betty Jo and all his family.
Jim and Carolyn Manning
#1
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
We are saddened to learn of Dr. Ward's passing. He was a very nice neighbor and such a gentleman, with a friendly smile every time we saw him. He was always willing to help someone in need. He will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

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