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Our Inaugural Endowment is in honor of
Charles S. Thurston, MD and Marie P. Thurston, PhD. 
Your support plays a crucial role in helping us achieve our goals and making a positive impact in our community. We are excited to have you as a partner on this journey, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.
 


Dr. Charles Sparks Thurston

Dr. Charles Sparks Thurston, a native of King William, Virginia, is the oldest of four children. His parents instilled into each of them strong Christian values. He received in 1953 the Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biology, from Virginia State College, Petersburg, Virginia. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1958 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.  In 1959 he completed an Air Force sponsored internship in El Paso, Texas. Following Flight Surgeon Training at Brooks AFB School of Aero Space Medicine, San Antonio, Texas, he began his first duty assignment, 1959- 63, at US Air Force Medical Dispensary at Alconbury, England. Subsequent Air Force assignments include:

  • Air Force Sponsored Dermatology Residency, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963-1966.

  • Chief of Dermatology, Malcolm Grow Hospital, Andrews AFB, Maryland 1966-1970.

  • Chief of Dermatology, Wiesbaden USAF Hospital, Germany 1970-74.

  • Chief of Dermatology and Training Director of Dermatology Residency Program at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio 1974 until Retirement as full Colonel in 1976.

 

Since his Air force retirement Dr. Thurston has enjoyed 38 years solo dermatology practice in downtown San Antonio. During this period, he has served as Chief of Dermatology at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital until 2012. He also volunteered his academic and clinical skills by serving on the teaching faculty as Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. In 1989 UTHSCSA awarded him the position of Clinical Professor of Dermatology. He retired from clinical practice of Dermatology in October 2014.

 

PROFESSIONAL AND HONOR SOCIETIES:

  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society                  1957- present

      - Charter member and President of Meharry Chapter    1957 - 1958                  

  • President Association of Military Dermatologist             1974 - 1975

  •  President National Medical Association, Dermatology Section      

  • American Academy of Dermatology Fellow                    1967 - present

  • San Antonio Dermatological Society                                1974 - present

       - President                                                                           1981 - 1983

  •  President CA Whittier Medical Society                           1975 - present

       - President                                                                           1982 - 1984

  • Dermatology Foundation Leaders Society Member       1992 - 2014  

       - State Chair                                                                        1999 - 2014

  • NAACP Life Member                                                          1991

  •  President Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Phi Chapter 

      - Charter member                                                                1988

      - Sire Archon President                                                        2006 - 2008   

 

A TRAILBLAZER:

  • The first African American dermatology resident to be honored by the title and role as "Chief Resident" at the University Michigan 1965 to 66.

  • The first African American to head a Military Residency Program in Dermatology

        - 1974-76 Wilford Hall USAF Hospital

  • The first African American Dermatology consultant to the Surgeon General of the United States Air Force in Europe 1970-74

  • The first African American Dermatology consultant to the Surgeon General of the United States Air Force 1974-76  

  • A most notable military contribution in 1974-76 was his research which led to development of much-needed USAF medical guidelines for prevention and management of Pseudofolliculitis Barbae "shaving bumps" a condition common to African- American serviceman.

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Dr. Charles Thurston and his wife Marie have been married since 1954 and are the proud parents of four daughters, grandparents of six girls and four boys and great grandparents of six boys and three girls. With support of his wife, he has sustained the strong Christian values he was taught. Dr. Thurston gives as his legacy a model for community service - a service of generous giving of his finances, his time, his talents and his resources.

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  • Vance Marchbanks Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award 1975, presented by the NMA Section of Aerospace and Military Medicine.

  • Omega Psi Phi Achievement Award, 1999, for contribution to medicine and health in San Antonio. 

  • Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Humanitarian Award 2006, presented by the National Council for Communities and Justice of San Antonio jointly

       awarded to honoree and his wife.

  • Honorary Quixote’s Award 2007, presented by the Missions of Los Quijotes Ambassadors of Health San Antonio.

  • Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. River City Chapter Community Leaders Award 2011.

  • 2012 Legend Award in Medicine by The National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

  • Listed in Who’s Who in San Antonio 2012, African American Edition.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE:

  • Ecumenical Center        

  • Selection Committee for Ethics in Business                 2005

  • San Antonio Area Foundation Medical Advisory Board   2003 -2013

  • San Antonio Symphony Trustee                                    1979-1984     

  • UTHSC Medical School Admission Committee           1985-1991     

  • San Antonio Witte Museum Advisory Committee      1991-1992   

  • San Antonio Witte Museum Trustee                             1992-1994       

  •  San Antonio Museum of Art Trustee                            1994-2001

  • San Antonio Dermatology Society

       - Charter Member                                                           2000-2012

       - Melanoma Annual Screening Program

  • Provided for more than 20 years                                   1985-2008

  • Monthly Dermatology Clinics to the medically underserved surrounding counties of Atascosa and Wilson.

 

CHURCH AFFILIATION:

  • Second Baptist Church Senior Usher Board                               1979 - present

  • Second Baptist Church Finance Committee                               1988

       - Chair                                                                                             1993 - 2024

  • Second Baptist Church Board of Deacons                                  1989 - present

  • Second Baptist Sunday School Council Member and Teacher 1985 - 2020

  • Staunch advocate of his Church’s evangelism program by hosting monthly Community Bible Study in his home.                                         

  • Second Baptist Church Community Center Funding Advocate 2006 - 2012

  • Member Executive Building Committee                                       2010 - 2012

  • Chairman Finance Subcommittee for Fund Raising                     2010 - 2012

 

 

Dr. Marie P. Thurston

At 71 years, Marie earned and received a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from The University of The Incarnate Word in San Antonio. This amazing accomplishment became even more meaningful when just one year later, her eldest daughter Renee Thurston Moore earned a Ph.D. in Education! 

 

At 81 years Marie completed her book, St. Philip’s College: A Point of Pride on San Antonio’s Eastside published by Texas A&M University Press. It tells the history of the first Historically Black and Hispanic serving institution in San Antonio, Texas.

Marie’s life is a testimony and reflection of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Marie P. Thurston was reared in Lynchburg, Virginia and received  her Bachelor’s degree from Virginia State College (now Virginia State University). While at Virginia State, she met Charles and they later married and raised four daughters. Her husband’s career in the Air Force resulted in military assignments that required the Thurston family to move every three to four years in the United States and abroad.

 

Inspired by her father’s thirst for achieving higher education and her sheer determination to continue that legacy, Marie earned a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan, and a second Masters from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

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Even during her educational pursuit, Marie managed to work in a variety of roles including secretary and High School Guidance Counselor and Entrepreneur. She owned and operated Clothes Encounters a Ladies Resale shop for five years and then used that experience to successfully open and operate Marie’s” a Ladies Boutique for some six years.

 

She has lived out her strong faith by serving her church, Second Baptist Church as well as her community. Of note her service at Second Baptist include the Trustee Board Chair, Usher Board, and Deaconess Board. 

In her community she has served on many community Boards including Southwest Craft Center, Frost Bank Advisory Board, Las Casas Foundation Board of Directors, and Young Women’s Leadership Academy Board of Directors.
 

Just a few of her numerous community awards for service are listed below:

  • 1993 JC PENNY Spirit of Family/American Woman Award

  • 2006 Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Humanitarian Award, presented by the National Council for Communities and Justice of San Antonio jointly awarded to honoree and her husband.

  • 2014 Community Legend award for Community Action from National Coalition of Black Women

  • 2018 North Star Award from the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce

  

Your support plays a crucial role in helping us achieve our goals and making a positive impact in our community. We are excited to have you as a partner on this journey, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress
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