The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 1977.
Walter Benedict Frommeyer, educator and physician, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November
23, 1916. He received his A.B. degree form the University of Cincinnati in June 1939 and his
M.D. degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine in June 1942.
Dr. Frommeyer served his internship at the Cincinnati General Hospital from 1942 to 1943. After
finishing his internship, he served in the Medical Corps of the Army of the United States until
1946, starting as first lieutenant and leaving as a major. While in service he was awarded the
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. After discharge from the army, Dr.
Frommeyer resumed his medical career as assistant resident in medicine at the Cincinnati
General Hospital until 1948.
After finishing his residency, Dr. Frommeyer was a research fellow at Thorndike Memorial
Laboratory at the Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, until 1949. At the same time
he was also assistant in medicine at the Harvard Medical School. In 1950 he became director of
the University of Alabama Tumor Clinic at the Jefferson-Hillman Hospital and became Chief of
Medical Service at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Birmingham in 1953. In addition,
form 1951 to 1952, he was director of the blood bank at the Jefferson-Hillman Hospital.
Concurrent with his duties at the Jefferson-Hillman Hospital, he held progressively important
assignments in the University of Alabama School of Medicine including instructor of medicine
from 1953 to 1951, assistant professor of medicine from 1951 to 1953, associate professor of
medicine from 1953 to 1957, associate dean from 1954 to 1957, and dean's committee,
Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital from 1954 to 1959.
In 1957 Dr. Frommeyer was professor of medicine and chairman of the Department of Medicine
at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He held this position until 1968. At the same
time he was physician-in-chief of the University Hospital and Hillman Clinic. He was co-chairman of the Medical and Dental staff from 1962 to 1966; chief-of-staff of the Alabama
Journal of Medical Sciences from 1974 to date; and director of Affirmative Action Office at the
School of Medicine from 1974 to present.
He was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Pi Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Xi, and Omicron Delta Kappa
fraternities. In addition, Dr. Frommeyer was active in many medical associations holding offices
from president to chairman of both committees and boards. Some of the associations are the
American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Family Practice, Association of
American Physicians, Association of Professors of Medicine, Fellow of the American College of
Cardiology, American Heart Association, Fellow of the American College of Physicians,
Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, American Federation for Clinical Research,
American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Medical Association, Medical
Association of the State of Alabama, Jefferson County Medical Society, secretary of the Internal
Medicine Section of the Southern Medical Association, Southeastern (Interurban) Clinical Club,
Diplomate of the Pan American Medical Association, Alabama Academy of Sciences, member
of the Executive Committee and Trustee of the Visiting Nurses Association, American Society of
Internal Medicine, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, and Marquis Library Society, Inc.
Dr. Frommeyer was consultant in Internal Medicine at the Birmingham Veterans Administration
Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, Birmingham Baptist Hospitals, and South Highlands Infirmary.
He was on the editorial advisory board of Nutrition Today science 1972 and also served on
the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Family Practice. In addition he was also a
contributor of articles to medical journals.
Dr. Frommeyer received many honors and awards which include the following: Peter T.
Kilgour Award, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine in 1942; Distinguished Service
Award in 1959, Gold Heart Award in November 1971 and Honorary Fellow, Council of Clinical
Cardiology in 1969 from the American Heart Association; Praestans Inter Omnes Award, Purcell
High School, Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 22, 1970; nominated Man of the Year for 1970 by the
Greater Birmingham Area by the Young Men's business Club; Distinguished Faculty Lecturer
March, 1971, by the University of Alabama Medical Center; Mastership of the American College
of Physicians in April 1974; Physician's Recognition Award 1974-77; Omicron Delta Kappa
honoris causa on October 24, 1975; Alfred Stengel Award, April 1977, American College of
Physicians; and the Internist of the year for 1976-77 from the American Society of Internal
Medicine.
He married the former Elizabeth Ann Lee and had two daughters: Lee and Virginia
Frommeyer Benners. He is now deceased.
