The death of Dr. Raymond W. Gifford, Jr., after a long illness, closed yet another chapter in the history of hypertension management in the United States. Ray was one of the pioneers in the management of this disease, along with Drs. Irvine Page, Harriet Dustan, Herbert Langford, Walter Kirkendall, among others. These were the physicians who, back in the 1940s and early 1950s, recognized that hypertension was a major cardiovascular risk factor that could indeed be treated. These were the physicians who looked for possible methods to lower blood pressure. The methods were often crude—the use of typhoid fever bacilli to vasodilate and lower blood pressure, extensive sympathectomies or adrenalectomies, or the use of rigid rice and fruit diets that were impossible to follow. But there was a recognition that people did not have to die prematurely at early ages from hypertensive vascular disease.
Dr. Gifford was one of the innovators. At an early stage in his career at the Mayo Clinic, he was lowering blood pressure in patients with malignant hypertension, oftentimes with powerful and poorly tolerated medications. Reversal of the malignant syndrome occurred. Patients did not die in 6 to 12 months, as they had prior to the use of this treatment. Dr. Gifford's pioneering work took him to the Cleveland Clinic where for many years he was Chairman of the Department of Hypertension and Nephrology. His contributions, however, far exceeded his recognition of a disease process that could be reversed and the prolongation of the lives of thousands of people. Ray's legacy is greater than that. Dr. Gifford saw things clearly, objectively, and rationally. He was an academic and a superb teacher but, above all, a superb clinician. In his quiet midwestern manner, he never bothered with minutiae. He was never taken in by the fad of the moment, the treatment of the week, the drug of the month.
Ray and I began to interact almost 50 years ago when we both were working on reserpine, ganglion blocking agents and later, thiazide diuretics. We served together on many national committees, including several Joint National Committees on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and the National High Blood Pressure Education Coordinating Committee. These were experiences that I will always remember. More importantly, over the years we spent many pleasant times with Ray and his wife, Fran. About two months ago, when we visited him in Arizona, when he knew that he had a fatal illness, he was still upbeat, cheery, and interested.
As we noted in the recent editorial on Icons in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension (March 2004), when Ray agreed with you on an issue, you knew that you must be right; Ray was usually right on target. When you walked out of a lecture given by him, you knew that you had heard something up‐to‐date and a message not tainted by industry considerations. You knew that you had heard a physician describing how he would treat himself or his family. Ray participated in many of the symposia that we have been involved in through the years in cooperation with the National High Blood Pressure Education Program. He always received high marks—deservedly so. His dry wit was part of his trademark.
This clinician, academician, and researcher was also one of the most honest and forthright people we have been privileged to know. Ray served on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension from its inception. His judgment, wisdom and advice have been priceless. He has interacted and been a good friend to almost all of the members of the Editorial Board. During his lifetime he was honored by numerous organizations for his major contributions to the field. He will be missed as a giant in the world of hypertension. He will be missed as a wonderful human being, an example of what a physician was meant to be, a man who truly represented the best during the halcyon days of medicine. The Editorial Board extends its sympathy to Fran who, through the years, was always at his side, and to his family.