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Lorenzo Raymond Sylvanus Nelson was born on August 1, 1902 in Greenville, Texas to Martha Louise Key Nelson and Pierce Shaddock Nelson. He was the grandson of Lorenzo Dow Key, MD, a 1878 graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and (Mrs.) America Davenport Gray Key. Dr. Nelson was the maternal great-grandson of Hillery Wattsworth Key, D.D., who had served as a Trustee of Meharry and Walden University. Dr. Nelson's maternal great-grandfather had also been one of twenty-two (22) members who founded the Methodist Episcopal Church North in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 11, 1866, a distinction that was honored by the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, Clarksville, Tennessee on October 12-14, 1979 by naming the Key Memorial United Methodist Church as a historic site. Two other churches in Gallatin KEY-Stewart United Methodist Church and Hartsville, Tennessee are named for Hillery Wattsworth Key, D.D.
Lorenzo Raymond Sylvanus Nelson first came to Lake County on September 9, 1935 and served a distinguished military career following his induction as a First Lieutenant in Medical Corps at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He served from 1935 to 1941 as a MEDICAL OFFICER, Civilian Conservation Corps, VI Corps Area, and was ultimately called to active duty in the Regular Army on March 4, 1941 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He was named Regimental Surgeon,366th Infantry Regiment prior to embarcation in March 1944 and was promoted to Major, Medical Corps, while serving in Italy. As noted the 366th Infantry Regiment, arrived in Casablanca, North Africa April 6, 1944 and was attached to the Fifteenth Air Force Command in the Italian Campaign finally returning to Lake County October 1945 after completion of his service in Italy. He terminated his Active Duty status in February 1946.
During a Reunion of the 366th Veterans Association a plaque was given to him on April 14, 1979, noting that he was the "Physician and friend to the Regiment who will forever be remembered as 'Doc' Nelson, the Regimental Surgeon. The former Captain Hondon Hargrove, author of THE BUFFALO SOLDIER IN ITALY, gave a person tribute to him in stating, "He was the most gentle of all men for helped men to face with courage the most difficult circumstances." Judge John Letts, who gave a tribute to him at his final Memorial Service in the Chapel and Internment at Fort Custer National Cemetery on August 11, 1994, said as he reflected upon his deep caring not only of the Men and Officers of the Regiment, but also of their families said, "Of all men that I have known, he was one of the rarest." Colonel Charles Fisher, Retired, Regimental Chaplain, 366th Infantry, who Officiated at Dr. Nelson's service at Frank Howe's Chapel, Garratt Theological Seminary, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois on July 2, 1994 stated, "he was a universal man, a man of the universe, who cared for the enemy, prisoners-of-war, refugees, children of the war, as well as his own Men and Officers equally. He was a man beyond race, color or creed."
The same tradition was carried into civilian life where he practiced for sixty five (65) years. On April 27, 1979 former Governor William Milliken gave him a Centennial Award in "recognition of your outstanding contribution to public health in Michigan over the years."
He was Chief of Staff at Reed City Hospital, Reed City, Michigan from 1946-1964, was Medical Advisor to the Draft Board from 1946-1972 and served as Lake County Medical Examiner. Her was a former President of Tri-County Medical Society (Lake-Osceola-Mecosta County), MICHIGAN STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION and on the Board of the Areawide Comprehensive Planning Unit in Grand Rapids as well as a recepient of an honorary humanitarian award from the Michigan Department of Public Health. He also served as acting Public Health Director for District 5 in Michigan during which time he gave approval for the establishment of REGIONAL HEALTH CARE, with the hope that the promise would be fulfilled from the Regional Office Administrator, HEW, Dr. Frank Ellis that quality medicine would be provided for that area with Attending Physicians supervising Resident Staff from both Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, the medical school from which he graduated in 1929 and his maternal great-grandfather, Lorenzo Dow Key, graduated in 1878, Meharry Medical Department, Walden University and Michigan State University Medical School. That promise was not brought to fruition.
Lorenzo Raymond Sylvanus Nelson participated in the Tenth Annual Medical Military Inactive Training Unit,Mayo Foundation from October 2-10, 1938 and was trained by Charles Huggins, a Nobel Laureate, Professor Emeritus of Urology at University of Chicago, who remembered and esteemed him profoundly.
Dr. Nelson was honored by having an elementary school in Webber Township, Lake County named the Lorenzo Raymond Nelson Elementary School. Although it only provided education for Kindergarten through Third Grade, during the time that it was rated as providing the best quality education by the Accreditation Committee which rated Baldwin Community School. He served as the unpaid consultant of Deerwood Developmental Center, Inc. from 1980-1984.
Dr. Nelson's mother was a graduate of Chicago Conservatory of Music in Voice and Piano. He became an accomplished musician on both piano and Cornet and played with the Ted Lewis Band among others. He delived Count Basie's first child when he was serving as an Intern in Kansas City, Missouri. It was his maternal grandmother, America Davenport Gray Key, an educator, who allegedly changed the course of his life when she demanded that he relinquish his Cornet, an instrument that his mother apparently also played as a girl of approximately 18 prior to her marriage November 1901 after the early death of her father, Lorenzo Dow Key, M.D. April 11, 1901 from pneumonia, called at that time, "CAPTAIN OF DEATH".
Lorenzo Raymond Sylvanus Nelson, M.D. married Blanche Juanita Crawford, R. N., who had the distinction of receiving the Nelson Gold Medal for highest academic attainment during her studies in the School of Nursing, Meharry Medical College, where she also graduated May 1929. Dr. Nelson had received his Bachelor's degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee and his degree as Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical College in May 1929. After completion of his Internship at Kansas City General Hospital # 2 they were married in Wichita, Kansas on July 6, 1930.
Final Internment for Lorenzo Raymond Sylvanus Nelson, was held Thursday August 11, 1994 at Fort Custer National Cemetery following his death in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo, Michigan on June 29, 1994. The one-time military surgeon was buried with full honors at Fort Custer following a moving service held by Chaplain Amidon, Chief Army Chaplain. He had the distinction of being the first to be allowed to have services at Fort Custer Veterans Hospital Chapel. A beautiful solo, IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST NOR WEST, a hymn arranged by Harry Burleigh was sung by a boy soprano, Andrew Sorrell, who sang a capella. Harry Burleigh, noted composer and soloist, was the father of Mr. ALSTON BURLEIGH, noted actor, musician, who was also an Officer of 366th Infantry Regiment.
