OBITUARY Dr. Mark L. Lemmon MD Born January 3, 1924 LEMMON, M.D., Mark L. Pioneering plastic surgeon Mark L. Lemmon, M.D. passed away on July 13, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. He was 94. Mark was born January 3, 1924 in Dallas, the son of Mark Lemmon and Maybelle Reynolds Lemmon.
He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1941 and continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1943, he was called to active duty with the US Navy and served in World War II and the Korean War as a Pre-Med student, Seat Ejection Instructor and as a Lieutenant Medical Flight Surgeon until 1953, all while pursuing his medical education. He graduated in 1948 from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX with his Medical Degree.
In 1956 he re-enrolled at U.T. Austin to finish his B.A. During this time, he held an Internship in Philadelphia, a Fellowship at the Mayo Foundation in Minnesota and at the Queen Victoria Hospital in England until 1958. That year Mark returned to Dallas and founded his private practice in Plastic Surgery. He quickly established himself as one of the city’s premier doctors and a leader in his field.
He held a position of Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and he served as the President of the Texas Society of Plastic Surgery and the Chief of Staff at Gaston Episcopal Hospital. He was awarded the Tiffany Award, for “Most Significant Scientific Contribution” from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 1978. He wrote several textbooks and numerous journal publications on Rhytidectomy and the SMAS Procedure from 1954-1984.
During his career as a plastic surgeon he became known as a trailblazer of the modern-day face-lift procedure. He held many positions in professional organizations, societies and educational committees, as well as memberships in numerous clubs throughout his illustrious career. He retired from private practice in 1991.
In 1990, he married the love of his life, Barbara Thomas Lemmon. Together, they focused on building their wine venture, San Saba Vineyards in Soledad, CA, which Dr. Lemmon established in 1975. It is now sold world-wide as Wrath under the leadership of Michael Thomas, who has taken over the love of wine making from his step-father.
Mark and Barbara shared several wonderful years traveling the world and spending time with family. Mark enjoyed an active lifestyle from golf and tennis to big game hunting in Africa and Alaska. His adventures included salmon fishing in Canada, pheasant shooting in England and Scotland and White-winged dove shooting in Mexico and South America.
Whether, dancing in the kitchen or on the ballroom floor, his life was full of love and laughter with his wife beside him. His motto was “everything in moderation” and enjoyed indulging in the finer things; dark chocolate, good wine and the good food lovingly prepared by Juana, Elena and his granddaughter Katie. Mark was a remarkable man and a true gentleman who will be greatly missed by all who have known him.
As a prolific philanthropist, he supported medical research, the arts and education. He was preceded in death by his brother, George Reynolds Lemmon and youngest son, William Lucas Lemmon. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Thomas Lemmon, eldest son, Mark Overton Lemmon, granddaughter, Katie Lynn Lemmon, stepson, Michael L. Thomas, daughter-in-law, Estelle Thomas, step-grandsons, Maximilian and Balthazar Thomas, former wife, Nancy Overton Lemmon, niece, Nancy Overton Benzmiller and nephew, Tommy Overton.
The family would like to thank the many people who lovingly cared for Mark over the years, including Kofi A. Ohene-Adomako, St. Augustine Jackson, Renee Shaw, Juana Cruz, Ofelia Araksoussi, Eduardo Peña, Silvia Cruz, Gaby Contreras, his special assistant, Jerry Garcia, and his Personal Estate Manager, Wendy Carlyle. Finally, they would like to express their sincere gratitude to the exemplary doctors and staff at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. Services for Mark L. Lemmon will be held at Highland Park Presbyterian Church on July 18, 2018 at 11 AM.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute of UT Southwestern Medical School.
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