Interview with F. Joseph "Joe" Halcomb, III, May 14, 2021

Interview Summary

In this first interview with Dr. F. Joseph "Joe" Halcomb, III - the first interview of the Halcomb House series - he talks at length about his father Dr. Francis Joseph "F.J." Halcomb, Jr. He discusses Dr. Halcomb's upbringing on a Simpson County farm, his experiences in medical school, and the U.S. Army's 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group that moved in behind the D-Day infantry and marched across Western Europe until the German surrender in May 1945. He also talks about his father's return to Kentucky, not as the OB/GYN he intended to be, but as a family practice physician, a specialty that did not exist in 1946. He describes in detail his father's affinity for his community, and the lengths he went to serve them, as a country doctor making house calls, as well as a civic leader on the city council and Allen County School Board. Finally, he talks about the Halcomb House Foundation he and sister Julie Halcomb Koch have established to honor their father's memory and preserve the Halcomb House where they were raised, and from which their father often practiced medicine.

Interview Keyword

Halcomb House Foundation Julie Halcomb Koch Harriet Halcomb Dr. Earl Oliver, MD Mariola Shrewsbury Halcomb Family Medical practice Allen County (Ky.) Country doctors House calls Farmsteads McDonald Farm Log structures Log cabins Basements Additions Siblings 5th Auxiliary Surgical Unit Halcomb and Oliver Clinic Doctors Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians Kentucky Citizen Doctor of the Year (1970) American Academy of Family Physicians Allen County Patriots basketball team Dr. Francis Joseph (F.J.) Halcomb Jr. House National Register of Historic Places Family physicians General practitioners World War II University of Kentucky Historic Preservation Program

Interview LC Subject

Scottsville (Ky.) United States. Army World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe World War, 1939-1945--Medical care World War, 1939-1945--Veterans Physicians--Kentucky Health facilities Medical care--Kentucky Rural health services Rural health--Kentucky Country life Families Rural conditions Allen County (Ky.) Holcomb family Childhood Kentucky--Social conditions National Register of Historic Places Historic house museums Historic buildings Dwellings Historic preservation Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.