Lontime LV physician, civic leader Follmer dies

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999 | 10:34 a.m.

Services for Dr. Hugh Follmer, a longtime Las Vegas surgeon who was a past Clark County and Nevada physician of the year and a civic leader, will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4201 W. Washington Blvd.

Follmer, who founded the Boy Scouts Medical Explorer Post and spearheaded the creation of what is now the Desert Demonstration Gardens during his 37 years in Las Vegas, died Friday. He was 72.

Shortly after coming to Las Vegas in 1962 he founded the Boy Scouts of America post that became known as the Junior Pre Meds, introducing young people to the world of medicine.

For his efforts Follmer received two of scouting's highest awards for volunteerism, the Boulder Dam Area Council's Silver Beaver Award and the regional Silver Antelope Award.

"He was such a good friend of scouting," said Boulder Dam Council scouting executive Ron Garland. "Hugh made a lot of things possible for young people."

Southwest Gas Corp. executive Wally Kolberg called his longtime friend "one of those individuals who not only served his profession well, but the community as a whole."

Follmer was the Clark County Medical Society Physician of the Year in 1996 and the Nevada Physician of the Year in 1984. He also was the first chief of staff at Desert Springs Hospital.

Born Aug. 31, 1927, in Omaha, Neb., Follmer served as a Navy corpsman after graduating from high school. After leaving the service in 1948, Follmer went to college, graduating from the Nebraska School of Medicine in 1956.

After serving his residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, he moved to Las Vegas, where he eventually became chief of surgery at University Medical Center and served on the faculty at the University of Nevada Medical School as a clinical professor.

Follmer made an unsuccessful bid in 1970 for the University Board of Regents.

As president of the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas, Follmer worked with the city of Las Vegas to form what was then the Water Conservation Landscaping Park on Alta Drive. Today it is called the Desert Demonstration Gardens and is managed by the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

A member of the All Saints Episcopal Church, Follmer sang in the choir for the past 35 years.

Follmer is survived by his wife of 45 years, Helene Follmer of Las Vegas; two sons, Walter Follmer and Bruce Follmer, both of Las Vegas; a daughter, Anne DeMartini of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; a sister, Gaye Deal of Las Vegas and four grandchildren.

The family said donations can be made in Follmer's memory to the Boulder Dam Area Council of the Boy Scouts or the All Saints Episcopal Church.