Dr. A. Hamblin Letton, 93: Past president of American Cancer Society

By Rick Badie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In 1971, President Richard Nixon announced national legislation to fund a war on cancer.

After signing the National Cancer Act, Nixon turned to shake the hand of Dr. Alva Letton. At the time, he was president of the American Cancer Society, an organization that he, ultimately, served for 50 years as a volunteer.

A surgical oncologist, Dr. Letton played a major role in cancer control. He advocated education, research and community empowerment. He was instrumental in getting the Pap smear accepted by women and their physicians back in the 1950s, according to a society article.

"He represented us here and all over the world," said Dr. John R. Seffrin, CEO for the voluntary health organization. "He was the first volunteer to get to the 50-year mark. He was a big believer in education, and did a lot in working with other people to educate the public and policymakers."

Kathleen Horsch of Minneapolis served as chairman of the Atlanta-based American Cancer Society in 1988 and 1989.  Dr. Letton, she said, understood that cancer control and community are synonymous.

"He was extraordinarily supportive and an advocate for data and research," she said, "but he understood it would have no impact if that knowledge is not translated into treatment, practiced and disseminated in a manner that allows us to make sound decisions."

On Jan. 13, Dr. A. Hamblin Letton of Atlanta died of natural causes at his home. He was 93. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lenbrook Square in Atlanta. H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Letton was born in Tampa. He learned to play the flute at Brandon High and played that instrument and the piccolo in a school band at the University of Florida. He married Roberta Rogers, now deceased, in 1938.

From 1937 to 1941, he studied medicine at Emory Medical School. He interned at Georgia Baptist Hospital, where he became a chief resident.

During World War II, he joined the Navy and served as a medical officer and with a surgical service unit. After the war, he returned to Atlanta and became an attending surgeon at Georgia Baptist Hospital. He served as its chief of staff from the late 1950s to early 1970s.

In 1948, he became active with the state division of the American Cancer Society. He chaired several national committees and served as national president in 1971. He represented the organization that year when Nixon signed the National Cancer Act.

"I have a picture of him on the wall with him shaking hands with Richard Nixon," Dr. Seffrin said. "That was an important piece of legislation because it established regional cancer centers. In 1971, there were none; now there are more than 40, and Emory will have the first one in the state of Georgia."

In the community, Dr. Letton was active in organizations that included the Atlanta United Way and the Atlanta Housing Bureau. He was director-secretary of the Southeastern Surgical Congress and public relations chairman for the Fulton Medical Society.

"He was always proud of his leadership role with the American Cancer Society," Mrs. Horsch said, "but he also valued the many professional associations with whom he was associated."

In a 1998 article, Dr. Letton said the most exciting advances he'd seen as a volunteer were "the improvement of surgery with the ability to know more about the physiology of the body, helping people get over large operations for cancer, and the improvement of radiotherapy and the improvement of chemotherapy."

Survivors include a daughter, Alice Letton Zachodzki of Charlotte; two sisters, Ollivia Beardsley of Fort White, Fla., and Rhoda Allen of Columbus, Ohio; a brother, William Reynolds Letton of Fairhaven, Mass; and one grandson.