Kelly Scott Segars, Sr., M.D.

On July 23, 2019, Iuka and the Tri-State area lost one of its most revered citizens and strongest advocates, Dr. Kelly S. Segars, Sr., M.D. For more than half a century, Dr. Segars served his community, state, and nation as a physician, banker, pilot, farmer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian who worked tirelessly for the betterment of his beloved adopted hometown of Iuka, the state of Mississippi, and our country.

Kelly S. Segars was born March 11, 1930, in Red Bay, Alabama, to Dock and Ora S. Segars. Dr. Segars, or "Doc" as he was affectionately known by his patients, associates and employees, was an honor graduate of Red Bay High School and the Auburn University School of Pharmacy. In 1948, when Dr. Segars enrolled in Auburn, participation in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC} was required for the first two years of college. After completing the second year of training, he elected to go to advanced ROTC training because it paid $.90 per day. That pay, along with his jobs delivering newspapers and working as a dishwasher in the university cafeteria, helped to pay his tuition.

Upon completion of his studies at Auburn, Dr. Segars married his high school sweetheart, Martha Ann Thompson, on October 3, 1952. Dr. Segars worked as a pharmacist in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, while his wife completed her dietetics degree at the University of Alabama. Dr. Segars was soon promoted to assistant manager of the Rexall store where he worked but was only employed there for six months before being called for active duty in the Korean War.

Dr. Segars joined the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant while serving in Korea from 1953-1955. During this service to his country, Dr. Segars was awarded the American Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.

It was in Korea that Dr. Segars discovered what would become his lifelong passion for the study and practice of medicine. Because of his pharmacy degree, he was stationed as a doctor in a battalion aid station, despite having no formal medical training. Following his military service in the army, he decided to further his interest in medicine and fulfill his desire to help people by becoming a physician.

In 1955, while Mrs. Segars was completing her dietetic internship at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and Dr. Segars was working as a pharmacist as well as attending classes at two local colleges simultaneously to complete the pre­-medical school requirement, their first child, Scott, was born. The following year, Dr. Segars enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He graduated with honors in 1959 where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Shortly before his graduation, their second son, Mark, was born.

For his medical internship, Dr. Segars chose to once again serve his country by working with the United States Health Service Commissioned Corps in Norfolk, Virginia from 1959-1960. It was during that time that Dr. Segars was contacted by one of his medical school classmates about the possibility of starting a practice in Iuka, Mississippi. Dr. Segars traveled by bus from Norfolk to meet with Drs. Lewis George and Bobby King to discuss the project. In 1960, Dr. Segars moved to Iuka with his wife and two young sons and joined his friends in practice at the Iuka Clinic. They also opened a second, part-time clinic in Tishomingo, Mississippi. · Eighteen months after moving to Iuka, Dr. and Mrs. Segars completed their family by welcoming their daughter, Leigh Ann.

At that time, doctors often made house calls after work. This could require traveling throughout the county for many hours to attend to those patients who were unable to travel to the clinic. Dr. Segars devised a way to save time traveling between households. He built a CB radio and taught Mrs. Segars how to operate it. The hospital or clinic would call Mrs. Segars to inform her of a patient requiring in-home medical care and she would relay the information to Dr. Segars as he traveled throughout the county. Had it not been for that arrangement, Dr. Segars would have had to spend a significant amount of time in search of a pay phone to could call in and get the information and address of his next house call.

Dr. Segars quickly became a well-known and highly respected family medicine practitioner. Whether delivering babies, stitching up a leg, or diagnosing heart disorders and blood ailments, Dr. Segars treated the whole patient. He always took the time to listen to and counsel his patients individually, not only treating their medical condition, but also helping to educate them in preventative health care. He once remarked that he didn't have "patients," he had "friends" that just needed a little medical attention. In fact, this "country doctor," as he called himself, was asked by the University of Mississippi Medical Center to consider a teaching position at the medical school's department of family doctor. But Dr. Segars declined because he had no interest in leaving behind his "friends" who needed medical attention. Continually striving to give his patients the best care possible, Dr. Segars established the only mammography screening program in Mississippi, outside of the University Medical School in Jackson, and the first online EEG diagnostic program at Iuka Hospital.

Dr. Segars grew his practice exponentially and in 1982, established The Segars Clinic. He was ecstatic when his oldest son, Dr. Scott Segars joined the practice in 1985. The Segars Clinic quickly became one of the state's most innovative and technically advanced medical facilities, bringing a highly advanced level of patient care to the Northeast Mississippi area. The Segars Clinic was the first family practice clinic in north Mississippi to offer a cardiac treadmill and the Holter monitoring system. Over the years, The Segars Clinic grew into a 65 room clinic, employing 35 people and serving more than 100,000 patients. For about nine years, an additional clinic was located in Cherokee, Alabama.

In 1985, Dr. Segars was chosen Administrator of the Year by the Mississippi EMT's for training nurses and medics in CPR and cardiac life support. In 1986, The Segars Clinic was honored in by Patient Care Magazine as the number one family care facility in the nation dedicated to patient education and the vigorous promotion of community health care. Dr. Segars kept his patients informed through a twice-monthly printed newsletter, a weekly column in the local newspaper and a weekly radio program where listeners could call in and ask questions. Dr. Segars was often asked to speak at medical meetings and conventions throughout the United States as well as internationally in St. Anton, Austria. Dr. Segars became even more nationally known when, in 1986, the ABC news program, 20-20, traveled to Iuka to interview Dr. Segars regarding his reporting cases of possible insurance fraud in Mississippi. The segment aired on national television.

Dr. Segars was honored in 2002 when he was chosen as "Family Physician of the Year" by the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. Senator Trent Lott also honored Dr. Segars in 2002 with a Congressional Tribute in which his biography and distinguished lifetime were entered into the Congressional Record. Dr. Segars held memberships in the Southern Association for Geriatric Medicine, the American Medical Association, the Flying Physicians Association, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Who's Who in America, and the Mississippi State Board of Health.

Always the visionary, in 1962 Dr. Segars rallied the support of his family and a handful of local businessmen to charter the First National Bank of Iuka. Dr. Segars was elected President of the bank by its Board of Directors. The bank opened its doors in downtown Iuka on September 4, 1964. In 1976, Dr. Segars petitioned the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to change the bank's name to First American National Bank.

"Promoting Community Growth" was the founding motto penned by Dr. Segars and Chairman Julian R. Long and the bank has stayed on course, true to this original vision. Today First American operates nine branches in six counties. Dr. Segars welcomed his son Mark into the fold of the First American banking family in 2010 where he now serves as President, Compliance Officer, and Legal Counsel. Dr. Segars was not simply the Founder of the First American National Bank, he also actively served in the capacities of President and Chairman for approximately 50 years.

Although deeply devoted to his medical career, Dr. Segars also found time to serve as President of Tri-State Savings & Loan, Segars Communications, including WVOM and WFXO radio stations, S&G Cablevision, Hillwinds Farms, and First American Insurance Services. Dr. Segars was a charter member and president of the University of Mississippi Guardian Society and the Mississippi Medical Alumni Association. He also served as the Medical Director of Pickwick Manor and the Iuka Nursing Facility. Dr. Segars was one of the select few nationally, who qualified as a Senior Federal Aviation Medical Examiner. He was also Examiner for the Norfolk Southern Railroad. Throughout his medical career, Dr. Segars served numerous times as Chief of Staff of the Tishomingo County Hospital and was a member of the Dean's Advisory Council for the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Dr. Segars was often asked to speak at medical meetings and conventions throughout the United States as well as internationally in St. Anton, Austria.

Always an avid reader, Dr. Segars was Chairman of the Iuka Municipal Library and vigorously sought funding for the construction of the public library that we all enjoy today. He championed efforts to expand and improve the Iuka Airport, served on the airport commission for many years, and for a long time was Tishomingo county's only Civil Defense helicopter pilot. Congressman Thad Cochran honored Dr. Kelly Segars, Sr., in June of 2017 with the dedication and re­ naming of the airport to Kelly Segars Field.

Additionally, Dr. Segars served as a director and charter member of the Tishomingo County Development Foundation and the Iuka Industrial Park Commission. He was instrumental in establishing luka's first industrial park in 1962, and the first rural water system in Tishomingo County in 1964, which served the communities of Midway and Pleasant Hill. He also initiated and coordinated the acquisition of the Lockheed-Aerojet facility in 1990 and was honored in 1992 with the dedication of the Aerospace Business Center that carried his name.

Civic responsibilities were second nature to Kelly Segars and he was an active member of the Iuka Rotary Club, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He served as a member of the Tenn-Tom Development Council, the 4-H Advisory Council, the Lions Club, the Jaycees, the American Legion, the VFW, and was an Executive Director with the Boy Scouts of America and the Yocona Area Council. Watching his sons Mark and Scott and his grandsons Tyler, Jackson, and Thompson reach the revered rank of Eagle Scout were some of his most cherished memories. Always going above and beyond, Dr. Segars was honored to be selected as Tishomingo County Volunteer of the Year and the Iuka Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.

Dr. Segars' extensive involvement in community growth and civic organizations often required him to go to Washington 0.C. He quickly became well-acquainted with several United States senators and representatives from Mississippi and would sometimes fly them around Mississippi in his airplane. Many times, he would fly to Memphis, pick them up, fly them to their homes in Mississippi, then fly back to Iuka that evening to prepare for medical procedures the following day.

From early in life, Dr. Segars understood the importance of a good education and perseverance. To help enable others, he and his family established the Segars Family Educational Fund at the Northeast MS Community College and the Segars Family Educational Loan Fund at the University of Mississippi to help children in the Tri-State area achieve academic success and return to their home towns to share their talents and mentor others. Dr. Segars was a member of the Iuka Methodist Church and established the Segars Family Scholarship Fund there to help ensure that children of the church that wanted to further their education had the opportunity to do so.

Along the way, Dr. Segars still managed to pursue his loves of travel, aviation, and music. He and Mrs. Segars traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Once when traveling through Alaska,·they stopped at a pharmacy to make some purchases and the pharmacist recognized Dr. Segars' name on the receipt. A few years prior, one of his patients had also been traveling in that same area and stopped at that same pharmacy to fill a prescription Dr. Segars had called in for him, and the pharmacist remembered the Segars name! Dr. Segars enhanced his private pilot certification by adding instrument and multi-engine ratings and later earned his helicopter certification. For a time, he engaged in duck and pheasant hunting. It was through this activity that he came to know Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, and the two became friends. Once, at Dr. Segars' invitation, Mr. Walton traveled to this area to hunt and very much enjoyed his time here. Dr. Segars' many creative outlets included listening to music, writing and recording songs, and playing the drums, as well as building furniture He also liked to building furniture.

With all his many and varied accomplishments and roles, Dr. Segars was first and foremost a loving son, caring husband, proud father, and adoring grandfather. He is survived by his wife of almost 67 years, Martha Thompson Segars; his sons Dr.

Scott Segars (wife Diane) and Mr. Mark Segars (wife Lynn) of Iuka and his daughter Leigh Ann Segars of Pensacola, Florida, his grandsons Tyler, Jackson, Thompson, and James Segars and his granddaughter Julia Anne Segars.

For those fortunate enough to have known or worked for Dr. Kelly Segars, Sr., you know that he helped to make this world a better place. He inspired us to strive for success and to never be satisfied with mediocrity. He lived his life fully and gave to others generously. May his memory and legacy live on in the hearts of all the persons whose lives he touched.

Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. Funeral services are scheduled for 1pm, Friday, July 26, at Iuka United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Harrell Moore and Rev. Kerry Powell. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be J.P. Wilemon, Dr. James Perkins, Harry Bowman, Tommy Chamblee, Tommy Dean, Billy McKissick, John Poyner, and Benny Shackleford. Honorary pallbearers will be the directors and employees of First American National Bank, the employees of The Segars Clinic, Dr. Bobby King, Kerry Ginn, Jackie Bryant, Max Ray Whitehead, Gene Jourdan, Gary Matthews, Chris Cornelison, Dr. Harry Thomas Cosby, Rep. Trent Kelly, Duncan Cameron, Martha Lambert, Ronnie Scott, Gary Orick, Dr. Margie Glynn, Dr. Amit Gupta, Dr. Noel Hunt, Russ and Norma Robinson, Don and Inga Legere, Bob and Sylvia Ferguson, William Baldwin, and Tony Mobley. Visitation is scheduled for 11:00 until 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 26, at Iuka United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Iuka United Methodist Church, The American Heart Association, or to the American Legion Post 15 in Iuka, MS. An online guestbook can be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.