James Edwin White

Dr. James E. White passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family Wednesday, October 21 2015. Born in Okmulgee Oklahoma in 1929, his roots are traced to Ireland with a distinguished Irish heritage. James graduated from Okmulgee high school in 1946 and enlisted in the Army following high school. Near the end of his tour, he was offered an appointment to West Point Military Academy. He declined, following his dream of medical school to the University of Oklahoma in 1950. He met and fell in love with the love of his life, Jeanne Alice Nelson of Tulsa whom was also at OU earning her Elementary Education teaching certificate, while attending medical school. They married in 1954 and gave life and love to their six children; Sheryl, Gail, Keith, Kevin, Laura, and Julie. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

He eventually did a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota after a short stint at family practice in Montana.

Dr. White moved his family back to Oklahoma in 1960 when he became associated with the Springer Clinic in Tulsa and the Rehabilitation Center at Oklahoma State Technical School, Okmulgee.

In 1966, he was asked to provide medical assistance to Edison High School athletics in Tulsa. He accepted the assignment refusing payment because he thought it would be fun. That began a long association with many schools in the area including the University of Tulsa. He was beloved by the players and coaching staff earning him the title of “Jock Doc”, a title he loved.

In 1968 he left the Springer clinic to found his own practice, which became the EOOC - Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center.

Doc White was in the first wave of orthopedist to incarnate Sports Medicine as a specialty. Leading the way for sports medicine he performed the first total knee replacement in Tulsa. He was a pioneer in the medical community being the first in Tulsa to be trained in Boston for arthroscopy surgery and the first in Tulsa to perform this type of surgery on a knee.

He worked long, hard hours but it was a challenge he loved. He told his family if he could go back in time, he would do it all over again.

Dr “Joc Doc” White was very devoted to his family. Traveling together throughout the country they spent many summers laughing, loving and sharing good times. He loved his wife, children and grandchildren. He was the patriarch of a beautiful family, a good listener, an able advisor, a loving husband, beloved father and grandfather. He was an innovator who touched people’s lives and repaired their bodies. We will remember him for his wit, his love of history and quest for knowledge. He cared deeply about others and taught us the importance of working hard to make the world a better place.