Retrospect: Gillum retired from practice

Twenty-five years ago this week, a longtime Jay County physician stepped away from his practice.

A story in the July 17, 1993, edition of The Commercial Review detailed the retirement of Dr. Eugene Gillum, who delivered hundreds of babies over a 40-year medical career.

Upon his retirement, Gillum and his wife Jane were planning to visit their son, Larry, in Chicago. The couple also had a daughter, Janene Centurione, who lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Gillum began his practice in Jay County in July 1954 following his service in World War II. Several others — Drs. Ralph Steffy, James Fitzpatrick, William Cripe, Stanley Hammond, A.C. Badders and Forrest Keeling — were going through the same process.

A medical career was not Gillum’s top choice. His first love was aviation, an interest he continued until his death in 2014.

Following his graduation from Winchester High School in 1938, he earned a degree in economics and accounting from Tri-State University. He was then drafted into military service in World War II, serving as a mechanic on the B-29 aircraft.

Upon returning from the war — he was stationed in Guam — Gillum graduated from Indiana University Medical School.

Gillum, who was 72 when he stepped away from his practice, said he had hoped to retire earlier, but was looking for someone to take over. That someone turned out to be Dr. Marvin McBride, who was one of the babies he delivered 29 years earlier at Jay County Hospital.