Physician, Former Texas Tech Administrator Receives Honorary Degree and Citation
March 8, 2006
Written by Michael Castellon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 7, 2006
CONTACT: Michael Castellon, m.castellon@ttu.edu
LUBBOCK – Longtime physician and former Texas Tech administrator Dr. John A. Buesseler
of Lubbock Tuesday received an honorary degree and citation from the Rawls College
of Business. He was honored at a luncheon ceremony hosted by the college.
A medical doctor, Buesseler served as vice president of the Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center and founding dean of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
School of Medicine. He was instrumental in the development of the University Medical
Center and was founding board member of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University.
His vision of combining business and medicine led to the master’s of business administration
and the Program in Health Organization Management, a joint program between the School
of Medicine and the Rawls College of Business.
“It’s rare that we have someone come into our lives as dedicated to serving his community
and his country as Dr. Buesseler,” said Allen McInnes, dean of the Rawls College of
Business. “Today is about honoring someone with whom we are very grateful to serve.”
Accompanying Dr. Buesseler at the luncheon was his wife, Cathryn Anne Buesseler, who
has served as a faculty member in the Texas Tech College of Mass Communications, where
a Distinguished Lectureship series bears her name.
Buesseler, an active duty veteran of World War II and Korea, served as a Green Beret
in Vietnam. He played a major role in improving helicopter air medical services in
Vietnam, implementing techniques that are now models for the development of air ambulance
programs throughout the United States. He was founding chairman of the Texas Aviation
History Foundation and the driving force behind the relocation of the Silent Wings
Museum to Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.
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CONTACT: Randi Rives, business assistant, (806) 742-3940, randi.rives@ttu.edu