Walter P. Lomax Jr., MD, a graduate of La Salle College in 1953, created a scholarship in loving memory of, and in gratitude to, his parents – Walter P. Lomax Sr. and Elizabeth Harvey Lomax. The award, begun in 2006, was to go to an African American student attending La Salle College who displayed academic excellence and financial need.
Walter P. Lomax Jr., the youngest of five children, grew up in a row house on Reed Street in South Philadelphia. He attended Philadelphia public schools (Smith Elementary, Barrett Jr. High, Central High School). After he was graduated from Central, he went to La Salle College (now University) and decided to go into medicine, with the encouragement and guidance of Dr. Penny (Biology) and Brother Christopher.
Good work and strong study habits began in elementary school and continued through college, medical school, and the practice of medicine. Loving, caring parents laid a foundation of diligence, commitment and humor which carried through all of Lomax’s life.
South Philadelphia – 1302 S. 18th Street to be exact – right around the corner from where Lomax grew up was his first office, a small general family practice. This office grew to five centers – four in Philadelphia and one in Dublin PA. From his early home life Lomax learned to practice The Art of Medicine, i.e., treating the whole person; listening to his patients; giving individual care, thoughts, and commitment that each person needed. He was also open to using a network of specialists when necessary.
During his medical career, Walter Lomax had the opportunity to treat stars and celebrities. One of these special people was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. In February of 1968, at the suggestion of photographer Laurence Henry, Dr. Lomax was called to Reverend King’s bedside to treat him for exhaustion, when he was in Philadelphia. (It was Henry who took the enclosed photo.) Shortly thereafter, King was assassinated in April 1968, in Memphis, TN. This experience of treating Dr. King was very memorable for Lomax. On Lomax’s prescription pad King wrote: “To the Lomax children with best wishes for a noble future. M L King.”
After 30 years of practice, Walter Lomax decided to expand his healthcare expertise to include managed care delivery systems, especially to underserved patients. He became a catalyst and principal in the first managed care program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lomax left his mark on the delivery of health services to communities in need.
Walter P. Lomax Jr., M.D.’s mission was to bring quality health care to underserved areas. With the help of many committed people, Lomax made sure that he brought on an excellent staff of physicians and support people to give his patients the very best.
The legacy of caring, commitment, hard work, and yes humor is kept alive by Walter’s wife Beverly; his six children and their families, including 17 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
For more information, contact the Financial Aid office at 215-951-1070 or finserv@lasalle.edu.