Former Navajo VP, Taylor McKenzie dies at age 76

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — Taylor McKenzie, former Navajo Nation vice-president and the first Navajo medical doctor and surgeon, died at Presbyterian Hospital on Friday. He was 76.

McKenzie served as Navajo Nation vice-president from 1999 to 2003 under former Navajo Nation president Kelsey Begaye.

In December 2005, he was appointed the Navajo Nation's first Medical Officer. For 30 years, he was a physician with the Public Health Service on the Nation.

Dignitaries across the Nation received word of his passing Friday afternoon and were saddened to hear of his passing, including Begaye. He remembered him as agood friend, a loyal and dedicated servant of thepeople, and a devoted health advocate for the Navajo Nation.

"He just went 110 percent," he said. "The results are some of the clinics like in Pinon, the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and laying the groundwork for a future clinic at Bodaway-Gap. It saddens me deeply to hear of his loss."

Anslem Roanhorse, executive director of the Navajo Nation Division of Health, said he and his staff were also shocked and saddened to hear of Dr. McKenzie s passing.

"He has really taken us to a new level since he became Medical Officer of Navajo Nation Division of Health," said Roanhorse. "We will all greatly miss him."

McKenzie was responsible for oversight of technical operations at the division, and helped to establish the Navajo Task Force on Veterans Health Care. Veteran health care issues and community based out-patient care clinics were also a primary focus during his time as Medical Officer.

"He loved his people and he dedicated his life and career to them," said President Joe Shirley, Jr. "We all need to pay homage to his leadership."

Dr. McKenzie was a 1954 graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. He received his medical degree from the Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas,in 1958. He interned at Pontiac General Hospital, Pontiac, Mich., from 1958 to 1959, and completed his surgery residency at Pontiac General Hospital from 1959 to 1963.

He became a member of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in 1964 and served in that capacity on the Navajo Nation until he retired in January 1995. He continued his medical practice part-time in the out-patient department at the Gallup Indian Medical Center until he ran for tribal vice president in 1998. After serving in office, he served at the CEO for Sage Memorial Hospital in Ganado.

While in the PHS, he served as Chief of Surgery at theTuba City Indian Hospital, and the Shiprock Indian Hospital. From 1974 to 1977, he was detailed to the former Navajo Health Authority as executive director.

He also served as the dean of the American Indian School of Medicine in Shiprock. In 1971, Dr. McKenzie was a founding member of the Association of American Indian Physicians.

Among a number of awards and distinguishments, Dr. McKenzie received the New Mexico Distinguished PublicService Award and the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. Public Health Service. In 2005, Wheaton College Alumni Association recognized him with the Distinguished Service to Society Award.

He is survived by his wife Betty McKenzie, and their children Michael, Marvin, Judith, Gilbert, Patrick, Claire Klumpenhower, Kathleen, Edward, and Jeremy.

Navajo Nation flags will be flown at half-staff on Monday in Window Rock in his honor. Funeral arrangements are pending.