Celebrating the Legacy of Truman G. Blocker, MD (1909-1984)

The Health Education Center was constructed on the site where a legendary oak tree once stood. Affectionately called the "Blocker Oak" for decades, the tree honored Truman G. Blocker, Jr., MD, the beloved first President and longtime faculty member of the University of Texas Medical Branch. 

The story of the Blocker Oak begins in the 1960's, when the parcel of land where the Blocker Oak grew was acquired by UTMB for campus expansion. Former landowner Peggy Hannigan appealed to then President Blocker for the tree's preservation. Dr. Blocker agreed and issued an edict that campus expansion would take place at a safe distance from the tree.

Thus the oak tree, soon dedicated as the Blocker Oak, took on a mystical aura of being under the protection of the legendary president. Campus lore has it that because the tree was associated with the spirit of Dr. Blocker, students would touch it for luck before exams.

Unfortunately, the massive oak was mortally damaged in 2008 by Hurricane Ike. Though tremendous efforts were made to save the Blocker Oak, professional arborists who were consulted all agreed that the tree would never recover.

Though physically gone, the Blocker Oak inspires wonderful memories. As a special gesture, salvaged selections of the tree were used to create several unique pieces of furniture that are prominently displayed within the Health Education Center, a building that continues Dr. Blocker's legacy of training the future healthcare workforce and advancing the health sciences.