Charles E. Seay, Jr., 32°
c/o Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219–3993

A heartwarming anecdote demonstrates the mission of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children exists because of the generosity of Masons throughout the state of Texas, along with the support of good-hearted Texans who really care deeply about the well-being of children. No bills are ever sent out. In fact, there's no billing department in this hospital. The doors of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children are open to all children 18 and under who live in the state of Texas. There is no distinction between race, color, creed, or anything else. All children are equal at this hospital. Kids come here, and, yes, they have problems, some of them severe, but once they get to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, their problems can be addressed. It's onward and upward from there on.

One of my favorite stories is told by Dr. Tony Herring, Chief of Staff at the Hospital. He tells of a little boy who had a prosthesis on his right arm. As he was playing a baseball game, he caught a ball hit into the infield, but the prosthesis he was wearing locked on the ball. Not knowing what to do, the little boy quickly unstrapped the entire prosthesis and threw it, ball and all, to second base—just in time to call the runner out. Clearly, where there is a will there is a way, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children gave this little boy the will to play and live, whatever his handicap.

Photo: Pictured with two patients at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) are key members of the TSRHC family. They are (l. to r.): Bro. Robert L. Walker, 32°, K.C.C.H., Executive Vice President and Administrator, TSRHC; Bro. J. A. "Tony" Herring, M.D., 32°, Chief of Staff, TSRHC; Ill. Robert L. Dillard, Jr., 33°, Grand Cross, Vice Chairman of the Board, TSRHC; Ill. J. C. Montgomery, Jr., 33°, President, TSRHC; Ill. Sam E. Hilburn, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Texas, Grand Treasurer of the Supreme Council, 33°, and Chairman of the Board, TSRHC.

My mom and dad, Sadie and Charles Seay, 33°, were always great visionaries in medicine, particularly helping kids in that field, and they gave the original grant to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital to start the hospital's dyslexia training program. That vision has turned Texas Scottish Rite Hospital into one of the premiere learning centers in this field.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital is a family. All of the unsung angels involved—whether employees, doctors, volunteers, parents of a patient, or the patients themselves—are part of the Scottish Rite family, and it's really a privilege to be a member of this very special family.

This past February, I was helping with the clean-up of Reverchon Park, a Dallas landmark located behind the hospital, along with some of the Scottish Rite volunteers. A CBS newsperson was also there that day. I commented to the gentleman on what a beautiful day it was. He said, "Yes indeed it is, Charlie. The sun always shines at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children!"

Charles E. Seay, Jr. is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Dallas, Texas, and the Grand Lodge of Texas, holding dual membership in his parent Lodge, Knox–Corinthian No. 851, Richardson, Texas, and Claud L. Austin, No. 1450, Dallas. A lifelong resident of Dallas, Bro. Seay is a respected civic leader who has served the community in many capacities, including the boards of the Metropolitan YMCA, Children's Health Service, and the Children's Medical Center. He is a member of the Salesmanship Club and is currently on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, SPCA of Texas, and the Circle Ten Boy Scouts of America. For the past 13 years, Bro. Seay has been the Honorary Chairman of the Tartan Golf Classic, a golf tournament that benefits Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. (See "Current Interest" Scottish Rite Journal, September 1999.) Over the years, he has enthusiastically introduced the hospital to many individuals, organizations, and foundations. These friends, in turn, have provided awareness, leadership, volunteer support, and financial contributions to aid the hospital in its mission. Bro. Seay is married to Carol Paris Seay and has a son, Michael.