UAB Synopsis, Vol. 24, No. 29, August 1, 2005
James Ellis Sparks, MD, died in Huntsville on June 13 at age 79 . Dr. Sparks was the former dean of the School of Primary Medical Care, School of Medicine in Huntsville, from 1989 until 1994, when he was named dean emeritus.
Born in Corinth, Mississippi, he moved to Huntsville with his family, attended public schools there, graduated from Emory University, served an internship in Madison, Wisconsin, entered the United States Navy Medical Corps as a lieutenant and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Korea. After com-pleting his training, he opened his practice in internal medicine and cardiology in Huntsville in 1956.
Dr. Sparks joined the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1974 as professor and chief of the internal medicine program in Huntsville. The medical school library is named in his honor.