John A. Prior, MD, received his BA and MD degrees from The Ohio State University, where his father was professor of civil engineering. After internship at Grant Hospital he was a resident and fellow in pulmonary disease in Cincinnati, and soon became recognized in the area of chest disease. He was President of the Ohio Trudeau Society with research interest in tuberculosis and in histoplasmosis. Dr. Prior was not only chair of the committee that was responsible for the design of the health sciences library - renamed the John A. Prior Health Sciences Library in his honor on September 1, 1988 - but also instrumental in the development of the Allied Medical Professions Program, the Pulmonary program, and the consolidation of the Ohio Tuberculosis Hospital at OSU. He was one of the motivating forces for OMEN (Ohio Medical Education Network) and for continuing education. Dr. Prior served for several years after Dr. Meiling as Dean of the College of Medicine, but apparently found the administrative aspects onerous and political intrigue of no interest. Many remember his insistence that the real purpose of our college is excellence in medicine. He is also remembered how in his last days, despite smoldering cancer, he was an advisor, cheerleader, and loyal supporter of his younger colleagues. He was always proud, properly so, that the library which he considered the heart of the medical center was named for him.