The Methodist Hospital Receives $10 Million Gift for J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center

Newswise — The children of a distinguished Houston philanthropist and oilman made a $10 million gift this week to the Methodist Transplant Center in honor of their late father who received a heart transplant at Methodist 20 years ago.

Through Walter Oil & Gas Corp., Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter III, and his sister, Carole Walter Looke, established an endowed fund to support the hospital’s multi-organ transplant program, which includes heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas.

The Methodist Hospital’s tradition of excellence in transplant began nearly 50 years ago, dating back to 1968 when Dr. Michael DeBakey performed some of the country’s first heart transplants. Now Methodist is home to the largest multi-organ transplant program in Texas and the most comprehensive center for transplantation in the Houston area, and continues to make strides in research and clinical care that enhance patients’ quality of life.

This generous gift supports the clinical, education and research activities of the transplant program, which performed more than 300 transplants in 2009. The center will be named the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center at The Methodist Hospital after Walter, a member of Methodist’s board of directors until his death in 1997.

“We are so very grateful for this gift made possible by Rusty and Carole. From my first days as an employee at Methodist 30 years ago, I always admired their father. He was a mentor to me and a visionary for our hospital system,” said Ron Girotto, President and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “I am so touched by their desire to honor the legacy of their great father. This significant gift will be instrumental in growing our transplant programs and enhancing this center of excellence for the benefit of our patients and the Houston community. Receiving this gift during the holiday season is so fitting, reminding us of the generosity of those who donate their organs to help others.”

J.C. Walter Jr. was active in the Texas Medical Center and served on the Methodist board for 30 years. His lifetime contributions to the energy business have been recognized by the University of Texas at Austin where he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award (1985), Distinguished Graduate of the College of Engineering (1977), Distinguished Graduate of the School of Geology (1984) and the Hall of Honor Award of the College of Natural Sciences (1995). He also received St. Luke’s United Methodist Church highest award, the Distinguished Life Award.

“Our father was an amazing person—a generous leader in the community and a devoted family man," said his son, who serves on the Methodist board. “There’s no better way to honor him than to support the very program that gave my father a second chance of life. Transplant medicine has come a long way since then, and we hope this gift will further enhance one of the country’s fasting growing transplant programs.”

Dr. A. Osama Gaber, director of the Methodist Transplant Center, said the gift comes at a crucial time for the program as it is rapidly becoming the leading center in Texas and one of the largest in the country.

“It is obvious that their generosity is based on a deep commitment to serve others and a desire to give back and honor the memory of Rusty and Carole’s dad,” he said.

Gaber said the gift will provide further support for heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas transplants as well as for advancing living donation and multi-organ transplantation.

For more information about the Methodist Transplant Center, click on www.methodisttransplantcenter.com.

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