An Interview with Frances Goff, June 07, 1977, Part 2
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Publication Date
6-7-1977
Keywords
Texas Politics, Cancer
Disciplines
Oncology
Recommended Citation
Goff, Frances and Macon, Don, "An Interview with Frances Goff, June 07, 1977, Part 2" (1977). Historical Interview Collection. 3.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/hrc_interviews/3
Comments
An Interview with Frances Goff
Director of Special Projects at MD Anderson
Video Profiles with Don Macon
June 7, 1977
Review and Set Up of Part 2 of the Interview
B: Overview
Story Codes
A: Overview;
00:00:01 – Review of set up of Part 2 of the video interview.
Service in the US Military During World War II
A: Professional Path
Story Codes
A: Military Experience; A: The Philanthropist/Volunteer;
00:01:01 – Railroad Commisioner Jerry Sadler requested the position of Personnel Director be opened for a segment of the Realroad Commision and offered Ms. Goff the position, which she accepted. Following work at the Railroad Commission, Ms. Goff then joined the Board of Control at the request of Chairman Judge Weaver H. Baker, where work was done on the governor’s budget.
After December 7, 1941, Ms. Goff became a member of the Women’s Motor Corps (American Voluntary Women’s Corps) in Austin, and at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio would “break in” trucks, jeeps, and other vehicles along with other corps members.
Joined the Women’s Army Auxillary Corps (WAAC) at Camp Swift and went to Fort Oglethorpe for basic training in Georgia, then returned to Dallas Love Field as a part of the Fifth Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command. After a reorganization, the re-assigned Colonel [Lannigan]? hand-picked Ms. Goff among all the women on the base to work in his office, which Ms. Goff enjoyed the long hours of work and association with his wife. After Colonel Lannigan’s heart attack, Ms. Goff was transferred to the Air Transport Command Headquarters in Washington D.C., and then on July 2, 1946 Ms. Goff was honorably discharged.
Return to Civilian Work for the Texas Board of Control, and Initial Interaction with MD Anderson Cancer Hospital Director Dr. R. Lee Clark
B: Building the Institution
Story Codes
A: Professional Path; A: Joining MD Anderson; C: Leadership;
00:11:53 – Dr. R. Lee Clark was in the military, stationed in San Antonio, and was creating an airforce hospital. Dr. Clark got a call from Theophilus Painter about a role as Director of MD Anderson Cancer Hospital and accepted, whereupon discovered several problems that needed solving, one of which was funding.
Concurrently, shortly after returning to work in civilian life as the Budget Director for the Board of Control, Ms. Goff led the first printed delivery of the budget per idea of boardmember Hall Logan. It was through much work and the first use of multilith offset printers housed in the Texas Highways Department printing plant; the effort achieved the first on-time budget delivery to the Texas Legislature by the December 15th deadline.
During this time, Dorothy Clark Worsham, Dr. R. Lee Clark’s sister, called Ms. Goff about going to work for MD Anderson, as Dr. Clark was a novice in dealing with the legislature and could use some guidance. At the time Ms. Goff felt she could best help via her staying with the Texas Legislature in Austin, versus working for MD Anderson in Houston, but started to educate him on how to interact more effectively.
Early Funding Efforts on Behalf of MD Anderson Cancer Hospital and Discussion, Aided by Pictures, of the Baker Estate Facilities
B: Building the Institution
Story Codes
B: Fundraising, Philanthropy, Donations, Volunteers; B: MD Anderson Past; B: Working Environment;
00:20:14 – Summary of Dr. R. Lee Clark’s Texas legislative funding effort progression from the late 1940’s to early 1950’s, and legislation logistics like state cigarette tax revenue, and funding of the future MD Anderson Radiological Institute, during then Texas Leutenant Governor, and then Governor Allan Shivers’ tenure.
Discussion of the initial location of MD Anderson Cancer Hospital and Tumor Institute at the Baker Estate on 2310 Baldwin Street facilities with some functional areas identified. On September 1, 1951 Ms. Goff agreed to join MD Anderson. The Baker Estate building was beautiful, but also cramped and initially unairconditioned.
Fundraising Efforts for, and Supporters of, MD Anderson’s Location Within The Texas Medical Center
B: Giving to/Fundraising at MD Anderson
Story Codes
B: Building/Transforming the Institution; B: Obstacles, Challenges; C: Giving Recognition; C: Volunteers and Volunteering;
00:30:06 - Farnsworth & Chambers Company, a construction company contracted to build the East Nursing Wing of MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, despite escalating materials costs due to the Korean War, held pricing “firm” for years while funding was pending, which Dr. R Lee Clark thought was critical to MD Anderson’s evolution.
James Anderson, a nephew of the MD Anderson Foundation namesake, was a cancer patient and played a “vital role” in securing funds for MD Anderson Cancer Hospital from primarily Houston-area patrons when the Korean War-generated legislative funding crunch necessitated more non-legislative funding sources.
Discussion of Ms. Goff’s successful efforts with volunteer “Mrs. [Henry Virginia Bailey, later Mrs. John Mule]? of Alpine, Texas,” aided by a hospital room models (shown in video) that were designed to fit in the trunk of Ms. Goff’s car, to solicit funding from sources throughout Texas.
00:34:27 – End of Part 2 of the video.