This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: gelmce Surnames: Pryor, Brown, Aulds Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ohio.counties.montgomery/4395/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Mary Brown Pryor, MD, died June 20, 2007 at the Hospice of Dayton.. Dr. Pryor was born in 1924 to the Rev. Ralph and Phyllis Perrin Brown in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A graduate of the Buckhannon-Upshur County public schools. and West Virginia Wesleyan, she was one of the earliest women students at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. Dr. Pryor was admitted to the program, completing it in 1951, one of two women among the 27 graduating students: Because that program was, at the time, a 2 year program Dr. Pryor completed her medical education at the Virginia College of Medicine graduating in 1953 as one of only nine women in a class of 94. After completing her internship at Cincinnati General Hospital, Dr. Pryor joined her brother, David Brown, MD. in private practice in Troy, Ohio for several years, where she was introduced to her husband, Richard E. Pryor then a young attorney and Marine Corps reservist from Dayton. She became an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Wright State University School of Medicine in 1978 where she taught until her retirement in 1990. She was appointed to serve on the Oakwood City Council in 1978, and she served for 14 consecutive years as a Council member, as well as Vice Mayor during part of her tenure. During that time, Dr. Pryor also worked tirelessly to create a special program to meet the medical needs, of adolescents in the Dayton area. Dr. Pryor was also a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood and acted as Interim Medical Director of the Montgomery County chapter of Planned Parenthood for a year and a half, from September 2003 until her 81st birthday in March 2005. Dr. Pryor also served, for many years on the United Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. Dr. Pryor was the recipient of many honors during her long career, including receiving a Woman of Influence Award from the YWCA in 2002, the Rotary Club of Oakwood's Civic Leadership Award in 2002, and the Wright State School of Medicine Service Award in 1990. Most recently, Dr. Pryor was named as a Living Legend of Medicine last November by the West Virginia University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Pryor was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2005. She is survived by her sister, Ellen Lou Aulds of Kettering; two sons, Richard (Elizabeth Smith-Pryor) Pryor, of Kent, Ohio, and Lawrence (Lisa) Pryor, of Providence, Rhode Island; and four grandchildren. A memorial service honoring her life and work was held Saturday, June 23, 2007 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Oakwood. In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dr. Mary and Richard Pryor Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Advancement Office, 3840 Col. Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435. (Kettering Oakwood Times - June 27, 2007) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.