Andrew Melontree Sr., a first in the hospital laboratories
A 2020 Smith County news release published by KLTV says Andrew Melontree Sr. was the first African American employed as a laboratory technician by Medical Center Hospital and as clinical laboratory director by the East Texas Tuberculosis Hospital, both in 1956.
Note
The firsts are the county’s own, from a news release KLTV published.
Sources
- KLTV: Andrew Melontree Sr, first Black Smith County commissioner of 20th century, dies at age 89 (July 2020; Smith County news release)kltv.com
Melontree was the first African American to be employed by Medical Center Hospital (presently U.T. Medical Center Hospital) as a Laboratory Technician (1956)
be employed by the East Texas Tuberculosis Hospital (presently U.T. Health Center) as a Clinical Laboratory Director (1956)
Checked October 15, 2026. How the cards are filed