Dr. Yondell Moore, MD “A Unique Individual”
My Day
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
On Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the legendary New Hope Baptist Church, the Dallas/Fort Worth community celebrated the home going of Dr. Yondell Moore, renown Urologist and his lovely wife Freda, who were both killed in a terrible accident. When I started canvasing the prominent African Americas who worked with Dr. Moore, conveyed to me was a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment. I knew him also. He treated one of my sons as a child and from that point on he always asked about the ‘boys’. As is well known in our community, Dr. Moore graduated in 1965 from Meharry Medical College, a predominantly black college for young doctors.
Speaking with Dr. Sharon Larkin she stated that ‘Dr. Moore and my Dad were ‘good friends’. Dr. William Larkin was one of the first African American doctors to practice medicine at Baylor Hospital, while Dr. Moore was the first doctor-of-color to practice at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas. As recorded, black doctors could not practice medicine in white hospitals until the 1970’s. About two years ago, working on the-rest-of-the-story of Forest Avenue Hospital, I caught up with Dr. Moore.
Important! Forest Avenue Hospital was initiated in 1960, opened in 1964 – 1980. It was an anchor, very prosperous and the economy engine for about three(3)thousand black businesses.
Dr. Moore mentioned that he knew the three black doctors who started ‘their own hospital’ in South Dallas, but it was already up and operative when he came to town. The hospital opened up a “tsunami” for black health care in Texas. Dr. Conrad, Dr. Shelton started their clinic down on Oakland Avenue (nee Malcolm X), then a few years later there was a clinic for black women on Peabody Street, with Dr. Robert Prince, Dr. Watkins and . . . oh. . .help me out here with the third doctor. Dr. Moore’s first office was located on Harwood Street and Forest Avenue (nee MLK Blvd) at that time. The Watts Brothers opened up a clinic, one a dentist, on their property on Oakland Avenue (nee Malcolm X).This was such a “triumphant time” in our recorded history simply because it was before affirmative action, civil rights legislation, fair housing, the removal of ‘white only signs’ and all the other buzz words for equal rights.
James W. Breedlove and Dr. Yondell Moore were Boule’ members with a full circle-of-life personal voyage. Somewhere between 1966 and 1967, they met in St. Louis, Missouri. Breedlove was in the United States Air Force working on infrared technology and Yondell Moore was the first black resident on staff at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis. Being black in high profile positions was not the only thing the two colored brothers had in common in late 60’s with riots on every-edge. Both graduated from Howard University, one in 1958 and the other 1959. They both entertained on their alto saxophones in respective high schools and had grandiose plans to take it on-the-road, if their professions did not work out. The two departed in about 1970 to difference parts of the nation. Breedlove to Los Angeles to dance ‘with the stars’, and Yondell Moore to Texas to tame the cowboys. Years later, Breedlove was summoned to Texas by President Bill Clinton and the Resolution Trust Fund (RTC) fiasco. The full circle makes its completion as Boule’ members where they renewed the relationship and the true meaning of ‘eventually, all things merge into one and a river runs through it” (Norman Maclean) speaking to the soul and nature.
Dr. Yondell Moore had an unquestionable reputation, humble in his work and more than once in the quotes I collection addendums on how he helped his fellow man and anyone who needed help. We must give honor to these early African American pioneers, doctors, lawyers, elected officers, educators, 24 hour auto parts stores, maids, janitors, butchers, loggers, brick masons, on whose shoulders we all stand on. Please feel free to remind others about our history.
Ester Davis2000@gmail.com
214.376.9000
