A native Hoosier, Joseph Walther (M.D. 1936) served on the medical staffs of Wishard, Methodist, St. Francis, St. Vincent, and Winona Hospitals in Indianapolis. He was founder, president and medical director of the Memorial Clinic and founder and president of Doctors' Office, Inc.
In 1985, he began the Walther Cancer Institute and Walther Cancer Foundation. A life fellow and master of the American College of Gastroenterology and a Sagamore of the Wabash recipient, Walther was named a Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society in 2003.
Walther received his bachelor of science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from IU in 1936. A letter man in track at IU, Walther qualified for the Olympic games in the 400-meter hurdles in 1932. From 1941-45, Walther served as a flight surgeon in the Pacific, receiving the Silver Star, Soldiers Medal, Air Medal and Bronze Star.
