Series ll: South Dallas History
Forest Avenue Hospital – First Hospital Administrator
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
After the Civil War, when slavery was officially abolished on government paper, a network of hospitals emerged in the United States. It is recorded that some 500 black-owned ‘hospitals’ were erected between 1905 and 1955. Detroit alone had 18 black-owned/operated hospitals. Coming into the southern states were noted, and numerous clinics, but the KKK kept interrupting progress. Some early black doctors embodied the theory that civil rights and health care were inextricably interconnecting. The Detroit Free Press wrote that these early black doctors were unheralded civil rights heroes.
Referring to an earlier article, “Relentless Audacity”* (by Dr. J. Ester Davis), is a renowned history-making name that is still familiar to us. Rev. Jesse Lott, a black family dynasty, now still in existence as Lott’s Funeral Home in South Dallas, was one of the significant early investors/visionaries of the Forest Avenue Hospital, seeing it through to full fruition. The three initial vested doctors for the hospital were only part of the operating equation. A pharmacy, as mentioned in series one, highlighting French L. Cowans**, Director of Pharmacy, was seemingly the 2nd priority. Based on numerous interviews with former employees, Dr. Ed Mason and Dr. Eugene Dorsey did the hiring. Both were surgeons. Dr. Judge Paige rounded out the ‘Big 3’.
The First Hospital Administrator was Norris L. Hill. I interviewed Mr. Hill which was a real treat. Norris Hill was raised by his Dad, starting first in the Wilma Hutchins School District. He was encouraged to join the ROTC at Lincoln High School, which was the only one at the time. He spent three (3) years in the U.S. Navy as a Firefighter. I was curious as to why Dr. Mason hired him as the hospital’s first ‘top cop.’ He concluded that maybe Dr. Mason was impressed with his extracurricular activities as a high school Football Official after the Navy. I have a different opinion. Mr. Hill obviously overwhelmingly possessed the disciplinary skills needed for a hospital’s strict routine. That detail, combined with Mr. Hill’s no-nonsense 6’3” athletic frame, would demand attention. Norris Hill left the hospital for an Area Management opportunity at Braniff Airlines several years later.
The 2nd hospital administrator was Mrs. Jean Freeland, Dallas’ first African American Female Social Worker. I do love these stories behind the story. Mrs. Freeland stayed with the Legendary Football Coach Eddie Robinson and his family while attending Grambling. She proudly said she was their cook, earning her way through college.
Coming up: The Honorable Rev. Dr. Mayor Ronald Jones, who was a friend of the Forest Avenue Hospital Family. **Mrs. Cowan’s name appears on or in a building at Xavier University. More about that with the Rev. Dr. Mayor.
Esterdavis2000@gmail.com. Visit *’ Relentless Audacity’ (Google: Dr. J. Ester Davis, Writer)
