St. Petersburg physician was pioneer in radiology

Dr. Robert N. Price Sr. helped start radiology departments at two local hospitals during his career.

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Dr. Robert N. Price Sr., a radiologist who practiced in St. Petersburg for 30 years and helped start the radiology departments at two hospitals, died Friday (Aug. 11, 2000) at Edward White Hospital. He was 81.

Born in Covington, Tenn., he came here in 1963 from Pensacola. He was a graduate of Mississippi State University, attending on a four-year football scholarship and was part of the team that won the 1941 Orange Bowl.

He was a 1948 graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical School and had a diagnostic radiology practice in Pensacola for seven years. He was chief of radiology at what is now Bayfront Medical Center and was founder of Price, Hoffman, Stone and Associates.

He helped start the radiology departments at Apollo Medical Center, where he was chief of staff, and Edward White Hospital, said St. Petersburg City Council member Larry Williams, who knew and worked with Dr. Price since 1964.

Williams said Dr. Price was one of the first physicians in Florida to perform aortic arteriograms, essentially what today is known as heart catheterization.

"From a radiology standpoint, he was a real pioneer in this community in a lot of different ways," Williams said.

Dr. Price was chief of radiology and voted physician of the year at Edward White Hospital before retiring in 1993. He was an Air Force veteran, attaining the rank of captain, and was a longtime member of Azalea Baptist Church and a member of Pasadena Community Church, the American Medical Association, Florida Medical Society, American College of Radiology, North American Radiology Society, Florida Radiology Society and the Pinellas County Medical Society.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Anne; four sons, Robert Jr., Clermont, Dr. Brent C., and Phillip L., both of St. Petersburg; and Dr. Jeffrey O., Englewood; and a daughter, Cheri L. Winslow, Port Charlotte; and 12 grandchildren.

A memorial service is today at Pasadena Community Church; greeting at 2:30 p.m., service at 3 p.m., reception for family and friends following. Royal Palm Funeral Chapel & Cemetery North, St. Petersburg, is in charge of arrangements.

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