Dr. Flowers, described as the Godfather of Arkansas Medicine, was born in Stamps, Arkansas, a small rural town in the Southwest region of the state. After earning his undergraduate degree from Arkansas AM&N College, now the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Dr. Flowers received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College, a historically black academic health center and preeminent medical school. Upon returning to Pine Bluff with a medical degree and after service in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a major, Dr. Flowers began practicing medicine with an emphasis on putting the patient's needs first. He would often accept chickens, pigs, or homegrown vegetables as payment and open his office after hours to accommodate the odd hours his patients worked. Living in the segregated South Dr. Flowers realized the challenges that African Americans faced and wanted to ensure African Americans received quality health care, regardless of income and ``normal'' business hours. During his private practice, Dr. Flowers owned and operated the United Links Hospital, a medical facility for Blacks. The hospital has since been renamed the Flowers Professional Building.

     In addition to his professional milestones, Dr. Flowers was a community leader, becoming one of the first Black doctors on staff at what is now Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, serving on the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and being a member of the National Medical Association and the National Association for Advancement of Colored People. Dr. Cleon A. Flowers, Sr. was an excellent physician and community leader. His presence in Pine Bluff and Arkansas will be missed.

     In addition to my Congressional Record statement, I have also submitted an article from Jet magazine's September 16, 2002 issue, which discusses Dr. Flowers' life.

 DR. CLEON A. FLOWERS SR., 89, NOTED PINE BLUFF, AR, PHYSICIAN, SUCCUMBS

     Praised as an old-fashioned physician more interested in serving his patients than filling his pockets, Dr. Cleon A. Flowers Sr. recently was remembered by family and friends during services at New St. Hurricane Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, AR. 

     Flowers, born in Stamps, AR died at his home in Pine Bluff on his 89th birthday, ending a nearly 60-year career that began in 1943 after he graduated from Meharry Medical College. 

     ``It did not matter to him if a person had money to pay for his service or not. He only wanted to be sure the needs of his patients were met,'' his son, Clifford Flowers, told the Pine Bluff Commercial newspaper, which interviewed Dr. Flowers in 1999. 

     During that interview the popular physician fondly recalled his early days as a doctor, citing his fees: Two dollars for an office visit, $3 for a house call and $35 for a home baby delivery. ``I even got paid with pigs, chickens, homegrown vegetables and wild game. Those were the good old days,'' he said. 

     Dr. Flowers made national news in 1954 when he delivered the first Siamese twins born at home. But he did not rest on his laurels. 

     Retired Jefferson County Coroner Havis Hester told the newspaper: ``I remember him opening his office until 3 a.m. in the morning just to accommodate his patients who had to work and could not get there during normal office hours. I never knew any other doctor to do that...'' 

     The second son of three born to Alonzo and Beulah Flowers, Flowers, borne in 1913, graduated from Arkansas AM&N College (now University of Arkansas Pine Bluff) in 1939. He completed studies at Meharry Medical School in 1943. During his internship at Meharry he was drafted by the U.S. Army Air Corps and later was commissioned as a major. 

     Dr. Flowers opened his private practice in Pine Bluff in 1945 and in 1946 he bought the building occupied by the United Links Hospital, a medical facility for Blacks, which he continued to operate until 1950. Today it is the site of the Flowers Professional Building. 

     In 1950, Dr. Flowers became one of the first Black doctors on the staff of what is now the Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. 

     His numerous medical and civic affiliations included service on the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College/University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Assn., where he served as president, and memberships in the National Medical Assn., Prince Hall Masons and NAACP. 

     ``Most doctors retire after 20 or 30 years, after they think they've gotten rich. I've seen fellows quit and then they go home and shut down. They just wasted away. I'm going to keep chugging along,'' he told the Commercial. Dr. Flowers did just that. He worked well into the his 80s. 

     In addition to his wife, Martha, he is survived by six children: sons Dr. Cleon A. Flowers Jr., Dr. John A. Flowers, Clifford Flowers Sr., Clyde Flowers, and Randall Flowers, and daughter Dr. Martha Flowers.