Dr. James W. Ward was a long time member of the Department of Anatomy serving in various capacities beginning in 1933. He served as Professor of Anatomy from 1958 until his elevation to Professor of Anatomy Emeritus July 1, 1974. He was born January 16, 1909 in Amarillo, Texas. He attended Texas A&M University but transferred to Vanderbilt where he earned his B.A. in 1930, M.S. in 1931 Ph.D. in 1935 and M.D. in 1940. He served a National Research Council Fellowship in the Department of Anatomy at Johns Hopkins University from 1936 to 1937, before returning to Vanderbilt to serve as an instructor in anatomy, and complete his medical degree. In 1940, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Anatomy until he attained Associate status in 1944. His interests and focus dealt primarily with anatomy and function of the brain and spine. He also served for a time as professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt beginning in 1970. An avid airplane and flying enthusiast, he learned to pilot in the 1950s. He died tragically on July 29, 1993 in an air plane crash in rural Rutherford County, Tennessee.