2007 Grand Canyon History Symposium

Paul Schnur
Dr. Schnur served as Chairman of Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the world renowned Mayo Clinic Arizona. He practiced Plastic Surgery at The Mayo Clinic until his recent retirement. During his career he was elected to the Presidency of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest plastic surgery organization in the world, representing the board certified plastic surgeons of the United States. He traveled and lectured worldwide representing American plastic surgeons. Dr. Schnur grew up in Arizona. He lived on Indian Reservations as his father was a physician for the Indians. He also lived at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and in Sedona, Arizona. He received his BS Degree from the University of Arizona and his MD from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He received his education in general surgery and plastic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds board certification in both disciplines. He has extensive publications in the medical literature. Dr. Schnur belongs to numerous professional organizations and has served many as an officer. He, with his wife Barbara as assistant, has performed surgery for educational and humanitarian purposes in Brazil, China, Siberia and El Salvador. This year they plan to do a working trip to the Philippines. In addition to plastic surgery, Dr Schnur's interests are photography, flying light aircraft, gardening and studying the history of the Native Peoples of the Southwestern United States. Dr. Schnur is a Master Gardener and maintains a hobby vineyard and winery at his home in Sedona, Arizona. He has been certified in single engine land, sea and glider aircraft. He has piloted single engine aircraft around the Hawaiian Islands, from California to New York and throughout Alaska and Mexico. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sedona Historic Society and is currently researching for publication the history of medical care in the Verde Valley.

Presentation Abstract...

Medical Care, Chapels & Challenges:   My discussion will include the role of the Grand Canyon Hospital and the challenges facing medical care during the years 1948 to 1955 when my father, Dr Leo Schnur, was the medical director. He was one of the founders of the Shrine of the Ages Chapel Corporation and the first president of the board. He became President Emeritus when he left the Grand Canyon and became Sedona's first full time medical doctor. Board members of the Corporation and the challenges they faced will be included.

I will review my life as a young boy in the unusual community of the Grand Canyon Village in the late 1940s and the 1950s. I will discuss my newspaper route and the school system. Also, I will describe my summer employment at the Fred Harvey Laundry, gas station, Look Out Studio, Bright Angel Lodge and as manager of the Katchina Lodge that was on the west rim. I will tell of the interesting people that I met including President Eisenhower, the Shah of Iran, Daggett Harvey and others.