Dr. John Houston is retiring after dedicating 4 decades to Owensboro families as a pediatrician. Houston moved to Owensboro and began practicing immediately after residency, caring for several generations of local youngsters.
John’s wife Cheryl and those around him say his most outstanding attribute is how much he cares. As a 3rd-generation doctor, Cheryl said John’s grandfather and father set the bar exceptionally high for how to treat people.
“I always wanted to be personable and tell stories about my family to my patients,” John said. “People need to realize I made mistakes when raising my children. I’m not perfect; none of us are. It’s all about just loving your kids.”
As a young and overly stressed medical school student, John was still determining what area of medicine he wanted to practice. Pediatrics was the last thing on his mind until he experienced his first round with children.
Cheryl said the difference in his demeanor and his outlook on work changed drastically for the better.
“I don’t want to say anything, but you go to work earlier, come home later, and you’re in the best mood you can be in,” she told him.
John spent a month on a rotation serving children battling cancer. After that, he saw the writing on the wall.
“It’s been amazing watching kids grow up, develop, and accomplish things – growing into unique people,” he said. “Helping parents through the trials and tribulations of the different phases has been incredibly rewarding.”
John was born and raised in the small town of Eminence, KY, just north of Louisville. As a child, he followed his grandfather, referred to by the community as “Daddy Doc,” on rounds from home to home, learning how to care for people and picking up some tricks of the trade along the way.
“I always wanted to make the practice of medicine fun,” John said. “It’s heartwarming – one of those jobs where you get positive strokes all day. The beauty of pediatrics is your caring for the patient and the parents or caretakers, which makes every day rewarding.”
Cheryl is originally from Paducah, placing Owensboro directly between their 2 families and an ideal town to grow some roots. The couple had reservations when some Owensboro physicians extended a job opportunity but ultimately decided it was the perfect fit.
“When we came to town, we were concerned about going somewhere we didn’t have any roots,” John said. “Back then, the medical community was like a family; the recruiting physicians were welcoming, great hosts, and it was clear they would take care of us.”
They soon moved to Owensboro with their 2 young sons, hit the ground running, and never looked back. John said Cheryl played a pivotal role in his formation as a doctor, excelling on the homefront while he often worked long hours.
“I have to thank my wife – medical school and residency were rigorous,” he said. “Setting up a practice began to take over my life, and I missed a lot of activities, and she had to be both parents at times. That’s probably why neither of my sons entertained medicine.”
John entered into practice with Dr. Shaw, leaving one or the other on call on alternating weekends.
“Cheryl was so supportive of us setting up a practice,” he said. “I remember talking to her one morning on the phone while I was at work. She said my son Nolan was running circles on a rug in their room, occasionally stopping by the mirror to wave. When she asked him what he was doing, he said, ‘I’m making rounds like my daddy.’”
Nolan was 3 at the time.
John recalled another time during medical school when he was in his home office preparing for final exams. His son, John Thomas, knew he wasn’t supposed to bother Daddy when the door was closed.
That didn’t stop John Thomas.
“He climbed up in my lap while I was at my desk and said, ‘Can you be my Daddy now?’”
Through sacrifices and hard work, John was a student of the craft and a servant of the community.
For now, he’s turning off his alarm clock unless it’s for an early-morning tee time or a flight to Florida.
“It’s really been a pleasure to care for these kids and families,” John said. “For so many parents to put their children in your care, it’s a big responsibility but rewarding. I’m thankful I could do it for so many years.”
