Elmer Carl Baum D.O.

Elmer Carl Baum, D.O. Elmer Baum, a beloved and dedicated Austin physician, passed away December 6, 2004 at the age of 92. He was born on a farm near Culbertson, Nebraska on September 15, 1912 and was one of five children. Dr. Baum, or “Doc” as he was fondly known by his patients and friends, worked his way through medical school as a night desk clerk at a Kansas City hotel. He received his professional degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri in 1934. While in Kansas City, he met and married Virginia Lee Kuns in 1934. He began practicing medicine in Uniontown, Kansas and served as Uniontown’s mayor for four years. In 1943, Doc and Virginia and their two children moved to Austin, Texas. He established a solo practice that was located at the corner of Nueces and West 10th Street for 60 years. During his career, he provided quality and caring medical services to numerous patients, including many elected and appointed government officials. Dr. Baum served Texas and his profession in many capacities: he was appointed to the Texas State Board of Health in 1951 and served for 18 years; he was appointed to the Texas Banking Board in 1969; he was chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee from 1968 to 1970; he served as a member of the White House Conference on Health; he was a physician for the Texas Department of Public Safety from 1959-1980; he served as president of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association and received its General Practitioner of the Year Award in 1958 and the Distinguished Serviced Award in 1995. He was also involved with his profession on a national level and served as vice president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and served on the AOA Bureau of Public Education on Health, the AOA Council on Federal Health Programs and the AOA Board of Trustees. In 1999, he received the AOA Distinguished Service Certificate. Dr. Baum was instrumental in the establishment of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and in its development as an academic health center. In honor of his efforts, the College awarded him its Founders Medal in 2002. Doc was a member of the Excelsior Masonic Lodge # 115 Kansas, Royal Order of Jesters, and Ben Hur Shrine Temple. He was a long-time member of University Methodist Church and the Judge J.E. Hickman men’s Sunday school class. He later attended Tarrytown Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 64 years, Virginia Kuns Baum, his brothers Jacob and Alfred, and his sisters Rachel and Viola. He is survived by his two children, Alan Carl Baum, M.D. of Houston, and Cynthia Baum Gerhardt of Austin; by his four grandchildren, Suzy Gerhardt Ranney and husband, Jack; Sharon Gerhardt; Alan Baum (“Roscoe”) and Caroline Baum; by two great grandchildren, Carleton Ranney and Virginia Ranney; and by numerous nieces, nephews and close friends. Doc led a very active and dynamic life that revolved around his family and friends, his medical practice, his church and community service, and hunting and ranching. He was a wonderful man, a loving father, grandfather and husband and a devoted friend. Honorary pallbearers will be Amor Forwood, Tom Pollard, Gen.George Edwards, Pat Malone, Trey Garrison, Nash Phillips, Bill Norman, Rod Crosby, Norman Snow and Dr. Helmuth Goepfert. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2004 at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Special gratitude should be extended to his devoted office assistants, Pauline and Betty, and the caregivers of Angel Healthcare. Memorial contributions may be made to Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, P.O. Box 27128, Austin, Texas 78755 or to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com