Dr. Claude Youtsey
By Jim Reis
Born on Sept. 26, 1881, in Alexandria to Dr. James J and Clara (Todd) Youtsey, Claude attended Campbell County High School and the Normal School in Lebanon, Ohio, before entering the Medical College of Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1903. He joined his father's medical practice in Newport.
Claude Youtsey was appointed an intern at Speers Hospital in August 1902 and eventually became resident physician at Speers for some 20 years. In March 1917, when state law required hospitals to have a chief anesthetist, Claude Youtsey was appointed to that position at Speers. He also served as chief of the medical staff at Speers for about 10 years and was a member of Speers' board of trustees.
Claude Youtsey would become president of the Campbell County Board of Health and president of the Campbell-Kenton County Medical Society. He also served as medical examiner for the Selective Service Board No. 21 in Newport during World War I and was active in the Newport Masons, Newport Elks and the Highland Country Club in Fort Thomas, where he was club director.
On March 5, 1943, he died at the age of 61 at his home at 721 Washington St., Newport. His death was attributed to pneumonia.
A Kentucky Post account that day said Youtsey had been ill for several months and had traveled to Temple Hospital in Philadelphia for special surgery. However, he had returned without the surgery because doctors felt he was not strong enough for it.
The same account said Youtsey included among his friends U.S. Sen. A. B. ''Happy'' Chandler, Gov. Keen Johnson, U.S. Rep. Brent Spence and State Highway Commission Chairman J. Lyter Donaldson.
Among his survivors was his wife, Lillian Rawlins Youtsey, whom he had married in 1911. He also was survived by a daughter, Jean R. Youtsey, who worked for Union Central Life Insurance Co. in Cincinnati. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate.
Both the Kentucky Post and Kentucky Times-Star ran editorials the day after his death. The Post said Claude Youtsey was famous for not billing people for medical care when he knew they could not afford the bill. While he may have dabbled in politics, he never sought the laurels of public office. The Times-Star described him as a genial and companionable friend and a valued citizen of the community.
The Youtsey family was flooded with telegrams of regret from people across the state and region after word of his death. Among the pallbearers was Lambert Hehl, who was Campbell County tax commissioner at the time and later was elected judge-executive.
The next year, on March 6, 1944, the Campbell County Health Center at 22 West Fourth St., Newport, dedicated its medical library in honor of Claude Youtsey. The ceremonies were part of a dedication of the health center, which was built at a cost of about $80,000. It is not clear what happened to the medical library.