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James Farra Van Meter Retired general surgeon and member of first Urban-County
Council, died Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital of a respiratory ailment, age
79; native of Lexington; served twenty years as director of the Cancer Clinic at
Good Samaritan Hospital and was president of the staff; also served on the
staffs of Central Baptist and St. Joseph hospitals during more than thirty years
practice here; ran for Urban-County Council at age 72; [h]e was more than a
close friend. He was someone I admired greatly, said ex-Mayor Pettit. Dr.
VanMeter was one of the most outstanding members of this community ever. He
spent his entire life serving Lexington in various ways. When he spoke, people
listened. . . . His wisdom and stature carried many an issue, and no one ever
questioned his integrity or sincerity. J. Scott Yellman, another member of the
clean government ticket, said I'm very sorry to hear of his death. He was a
great person. He was somewhat older than the rest of us, and he used to call us
his boys. He was always very enthusiastic about everything we tried to do. He
took a great interest in everything, even issues that you would expect to be of
more concern to some of us than to him; served for 17 years as secretary of the
staff at St. Joseph Hospital; received the distinguished service award of the
Kentucky Medical Association in 1974, its highest honor; Special Achievement
award for the Kentucky division of the American Cancer Society in 1957; Optimist
Cup in 1958; From: Lexington Herald, p. D-1, Wednesday, December 6, 1978.
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