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Vice-Admiral John William “Bill” Cox Retired

BILL COX (JUNE 1945)

John William Cox was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 31, 1928. After graduating from Rose Fanning Grade School, he attended Roosevelt and was secretary of the Boys’ Glee Club and President of the A Cappella Choir.  He graduated in June 1945 He received his Doctor of Medicine in 1952 and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physiology in 1953 from St. Louis University He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps, U.S. Navy in 1956 and did his training in internal medicine at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA.

He then served as Director of Clinical Services and Chief of Medicine at the U. S. Naval Hospital, Subic Bay, Philippines. William joined the staff of the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia as head of the Cardio-Vascular, Pulmonary and Communicable Disease Branch. In 1970, he joined the staff of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, D.C. In 1973, he assumed the position as Commanding Officer of the Naval Health Sciences Education and Training Command in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1978, he was Commanding Officer, Naval Regional Medical Center, San Dirgo, CA.

He was appointed as the 28th Surgeon General of the United States Navy in 1980. During his term, he revitalized the fleet hospital ship concepts. He retired from the Navy in 1983 and accepted the position of Associate Dean, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University. In 1987 to 1993, he the Director of the Department of Health for the County OF San Diego. William was a member of the American College of Cardiology, American Cancer Society, National Medical Veterans Society and Boy Scouts of America. He was the recipient of many awards, including the William Harvey Award from the College of Cardiology and several military decorations.

DOB: Aug 31, 1928 St. Louis, MO DOD: Aug 11, 2002 Point Loma, CA Age 73

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