Dr. Jackson Whitmore Riddle

August 30, 1917 - March 13, 2021

Dr. Jackson Whitmore Riddle Sr., 103, of Woodstock, GA, and formerly of Johnstown, NY, passed away Saturday, March 13, 2021. He was born August 30, 1917, in Linwood, Maryland, the son of the Rev’d. Dr. Earl M. Riddle and Besse B. Whitmore Riddle. He graduated from West Waterloo High School, Waterloo, IA, in 1935, and obtained a B.A. degree in 1939 from Ashland College, Ashland, OH. His M.Sc., Ph.D. (Medical Microbiology and Immunology) and M.D. were earned at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. The honorary D.Sc. degree was conferred upon him by the New York Institute of Technology in 1983. He married Helen Virginia Greene on March 23, 1941, in Ashland, OH, and they became the parents of two sons and two daughters. She passed away in 2011. Joining the faculties of The Ohio State University in 1948, he attained the rank of full Professor in three departments: Medical Microbiology, Pathology, and Preventive Medicine in the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and the Graduate School in 1955. In 1952, he enlisted in the United States Public Health Service with the rank of Surgeon, equivalent to Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy, and for two years served his country by conducting research in methods for rapid identification of potential biological warfare agents. From 1954-1958 he was appointed Special Consultant to the Public Health Service, the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Resources. In 1964 he was appointed Associate Vice President and Dean of Faculties of The Ohio State University. In 1966, he became Vice President of Medical Affairs of Eaton Laboratories in Norwich, NY. As the result of his directed research, among several medications developed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration was Levo Dopa, the first drug to be effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. In 1970 he became Executive Director of the New York State Board for Medicine. At the request of the New York Legislature, he drafted the first proposals governing the training and certification of Physician’s Assistants, which were enacted into law and served as model legislation for similar programs in many states and several countries. In 1973, during the period of great interest in acupuncture, New York State Gov. Nelson Rockefeller appointed Dr. Riddle to chair a 21-member Commission to study the practice of acupuncture, its potential benefits for the practice of medicine, and to make recommendations to the NYS legislature re: the legalization of acupuncture research and treatment, and the restrictions, education, training, and other standards for licensure. The ensuing NYS legislation, based on the recommendations of the Acupuncture Commission, became the model for similar legislation in most of the United States, Canada and other countries. In 1976, Dr. Riddle was asked to join the staff of the American Medical Association as Director of the Division of Educational Policy and Development, where he served until he retired in 1986. While a member of scientific, medical, and medico-legal societies, he was the author of over 100 publications and presentations. While living in Chicago, he was elected Warden of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James. To his wife of 70 years and to his family, he was totally devoted and loving. He is survived by two sons, Jackson Whitmore Riddle Jr. of Federal Way, WA, Paul Arthur Riddle of Woodstock, GA; daughter, Katherine Anne Blanchard of New Bern, NC; five granddaughters, two grandsons, six great-grandchildren; a sister, Joan Ronk of Ashland, Ohio; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife and his daughter, Julia E. Ehle of Johnstown, NY. Following a memorial service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnstown, NY, on a date to be announced, interment will be in the columbarium of the church. Arrangements have been made by Ehle & Barnett Family Funeral Home. Contributions in his memory may be made to KidsPeace, 101 KidsPeace Dr., Bowdon, GA, 30108.