A Texas-size Tribute to Dr. Denton A. Cooley
World-renowned heart surgeon and former UT basketball letterman honored for lifetime of medical service.
HOUSTON (October 2, 2008) — The Lone Star Room inside The University of Texas' Frank Erwin Center featured a "who's who" from the state of Texas' political leaders and heads of The University and its athletics department recently. All in attendance at the intimate event were there for one reason—to pay tribute to the lifetime of service by a true Texas legend, Dr. Denton A. Cooley.
A world-renowned surgeon and president emeritus at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Cooley pioneered the technique of open-heart surgery. He performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States in 1968. In 1969, he became the first heart surgeon to implant the first totally artificial heart in a human. Cooley and his associates have performed more than 100,000 open heart operations, more than any other group in the world.
A three-year letterman for the Longhorns on the basketball court (1939-41), Cooley graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1941 with a BA in zoology. His appreciation of his time in Austin during college and continued passion for The University of Texas made the Erwin Center an easy choice for Friday night's venue.
The event was kicked off by a biographical video tribute to Dr. Cooley, narrated by legendary broadcast journalist and Texas-ex Walter Cronkite. Following the video, the program featured tribute speeches and presentations from U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, UT-Austin President William Powers, Jr., UT Men's Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds and Texas Men's Basketball Coach Rick Barnes.
"Our university's slogan is simple. We bring people to this great place, and those people then go out and change the world," President Powers said. "There may be no better living example of this than Dr. Cooley."
Dr. Cooley was introduced to the crowd by his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. James Willerson. A three-year swimming letterman at The University of Texas (1959-61), Willerson is the president and medical director at the Texas Heart Institute.
"Words cannot express my feelings about tonight's event," Cooley said. "Obviously, UT has meant so much to me, and it continues to mean so much to so many people here and around the world. To have this event here on campus is very special."
Read Dr. Denton A. Cooley's
profile online.
