J. Roy Guyther

Dr. Joseph Roy Guyther, M.D., 93 passed away December 18, 2013, at his long time residence in Mechanicsville, MD. Born July 31, 1920, in Mechanicsville, he was the son of the late Roy and Helena Robrecht Guyther.  

Dr. Guyther graduated from Charlotte Hall Military Academy in 1937 with honors, and continued his college education at the University of Maryland College Park as a pre-med student and then at the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, for his doctorate, graduating on December 23, 1943. He served his internship at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore.

In March 1946, he entered the U.S. Army Medical Corp and served for two years in North Carolina at Moore General Hospital and at Fort George G. Meade near Baltimore. He was discharged early as a Captain to begin a medical practice in St. Mary’s County which was started on January 1, 1948. As a family physician, he started his practice in the Village of Mechanicsville and continued there until August 1, 1990. 

During his practice, Dr. Guyther was active both locally and nationally belonging to many medical organizations, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Med-Chi Council. He served as the President of the Medical & Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland in 1982. He also taught full-time at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine Department of Family Practice in Baltimore in 1972. He was instrumental in the establishment of the St. Mary’s Nursing Center in Leonardtown, MD.

He was awarded as the Family Doctor of the Year in 1979 given by the American Academy of Family Physicians and was recognized by First Lady Rosalyn Carter at the White House. He delivered over 1,900 babies at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Among his many interests, he was a member of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, Southern Maryland Society, Charlotte Hall School Board of Trustees, and St. Vincent DePaul Society. During his retirement he wrote eight books finishing his last one in September 2013.

Southern Maryland NewsNet.com