Roll Call Tribute

(Published in) Temple Daily Telegram (on) May 26, 2018

V.O. Speights, Jr.

Dr. V.O. Speights, Jr. was born on June 3, 1953 in Crockett, TX. He was the only child of Vester Oats "Doc" and Agnes Louise (Anders) Speights. He spent his early childhood on the family cotton farm in Leon County, TX and moved to neighboring Houston County when he was eight. He graduated from Centerville High School and attended Texas A & M, graduating in 1974. 42 years later, V.O. was presented with his Aggie ring by his wife and children.

After working in a hospital in Pasadena, TX for two years, he started medical school in 1976 and received his Doctor of Osteopath from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1980. He did his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the Cleveland Clinic and at Scott and White. After completing his residency, he worked for two years as chief of clinical pathology at the VA in Temple, TX from 1985-1987. In 1987, he accepted a position at Scott& White as staff surgical pathologist. In 1988, Dr. Speights was appointed Pathology Program Director and was instrumental in its accreditation. In 1999, he was appointed Division Director of Anatomic Pathology.

During his career, Dr. Speights taught at the Texas A & M Medical School and in 2005, he was appointed Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. From 2003- 2008, he served in the National Pathology Residency Program Directors Organization. Additionally, Dr. Speights served as a delegate in the Texas Medical Association's House of Delegates from Bell County and on the TMA's Continuing Education Committee. He spent four years with the Texas Comprehensive Cancer Coalition, and he served for 10 years, 6 as chairman, for the Texas Cancer Data Workshop, which later became the Texas Cancer Registry. During his leadership, this registry achieved the coveted Gold Accreditation by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

Dr. Speights was a member of numerous professional organizations, serving on boards, and co-authoring several research articles appearing in numerous publications, including The New England Journal of Medicine. In 2007, Dr. Speights became the president of the Texas Society of Pathology (TSP). In 2014, Dr. Speights received the TSP's George T. Caldwell Award M.D. Distinguished Service Award for service in and dedication to the field of pathology. At the time of his death, Dr. Speights was serving on a TSP sub-committee for tumor registry coordination and was chair of the Texas Legislative Council.

In addition to his professional life, V. O. had a rich life filled with activities involving his family, his many friends, students, and his church congregation. V.O. travelled extensively, including trips to The Holy Land, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He was looking forward to visiting The British Isles, and Antarctica in the near future. For five years, he was a chaperone on numerous Temple High School Band trips including trips to Disneyworld. He mentored and taught many medical students. He was a tremendous Bible scholar and taught Bible classes at Leon Valley Church of Christ in Temple, where he served as an elder. His pop culture interests were Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel, and D.C. He worked out regularly, and was diligent about getting in his 15,000 steps a day.

V. O. died on May 23, at Scott & White due to complications after recently being diagnosed with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lea (Hedgpeth) Speights, and their two children, Patrick Robert, and Katherine Elaine.

Memorial donations can be made to: Dr. V. O. Speights Pathology Innovations Fund via giving.sw.org or the BSW Foundation; Blood donations can be made at the Baylor Scott & White Blood Bank.