Dana Franklin Segler M.D.
Our website is wonderful! I cannot wait to read about everyone’s life and adventures since graduation from our dear Paschal High School. Here is my bio…..
I was born in Fort Worth but our family lived in Garland where my dad was minister at the First Baptist Church. When I was 6 we moved to Alexandria, LA and lived there 5 years, then moved back to Fort Worth as my dad took a position in Southwestern Theological Seminary. After a year at McLean Jr. High I moved on to Paschal.
Shortly after High School graduation my new wife (Madeline Carroll, who would have been class of ‘57) and I headed for Shawnee, OK where I attended Oklahoma Baptist University. After spending 3 years pursuing an English major I decided to study medicine and changed my major to Chemistry. Two years later I graduated and came back almost home to live in Irving and attend Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Following medical school I interned at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, then did a residency there in Obstetrics and Gynecology (no jokes, please!)
I was in private practice for over 10 years in Corpus Christi. My son and younger daughter were born here, daughter Debbie having arrived my first year in college in Shawnee. We then moved to the Hill Country and after a year in Kerrville, Madeline and I divorced. I subsequently remarried and moved to Plainview to take over an established practice. After the death of my father in 1988, Joelle (wife #2) and the younger children and I moved back to the Metroplex to be nearer my mom. Joelle and I divorced in 1990 but remained good friends. In 1991 I married my current wife, Ellie, an American Airlines flight attendant (now retired after 35 years.)
As much as I love Fort Worth, the big city was just not for us, though, and I subsequently practiced in Granbury, and then moved to Brownwood in 1997. I discontinued Obstetrics a year ago after getting up at night to deliver countless babies for 33 years. I never knew how wonderful sleep could be!
We love Brownwood and are just finishing building a home here on a ten acre wooded lot outside Early. Plus, lest I forget, Joelle (mentioned above) has not only remained a close friend to us both, but also moved to Brownwood this past year and works for us….as she says, “ we couldn’t stay married but we really do work well together!”
My older daughter, Debbie is married to Chuck Chapin who works for LCRA and they live near Paige on 10 acres. Her 2 boys are grown. DeeDee is married to Bryant Vaughn who pushes drugs for Merck and they live on 40 acres near Bowie with their four beautiful children. Dana, Jr., wife Julie, and their three delightful kids live in Allen. DJ is an optical engineer with Texas Instruments, being heavily involved with their Digital Light Projection work.
I am now doing less in the office but cannot picture retiring as long as I can function. However, I really do enjoy more than one “Saturday” per week. I still have fun with automobiles…my pride and joy being a 1960 Corvette. I have been an avid pilot for almost 30 years. Ellie and I both have instructor ratings and love to fly. In fact, our home overlooks the regional airport. I also have a significant interest in electronics and computers. I’ve been a licensed amateur radio operator for over 30 years. In spite of being both old and overweight, I love scuba diving and we go to the Caribbean several times a year for a little diving and a lot of R&R.
We are very blessed….and much of what I’ve been so fortunate to accomplish had its beginnings in the ‘50s. The teachers who lovingly taught us, the family values we were reared with, and the respect for others instilled in us both at home and school are treasures we cannot give enough thanks for. I am thankful and proud to this day that I shared the years with you all in the PHS class of 1956. I look forward to happy times with you.