Dr. Theodore Proxmire
After the war, Dr. Proxmire resumed his practice in Lake Forest, working tirelessly with a schedule that included six days a week of office hours, house calls, surgeries, and baby deliveries. Known for his community involvement, he founded and performed in the town’s first band, served as president of the Young Men’s Club, and led a Boy Scout troop. He was president of the Lake County Tuberculosis Association for two decades and an active American Legion member from 1919 until his death in 1959.
In May 1905, Dr. Proxmire moved to Lake Forest, Illinois, where he became the town's first and only doctor at the time, also specializing as a throat and nose specialist at Fort Sheridan Hospital. When World War I began, he joined the U.S. Army, serving as a Major stationed at Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois. By 1917, he had returned to the North Shore to take command of the Fort Sheridan Hospital post.
After the war, Dr. Proxmire resumed his practice in Lake Forest, working tirelessly with a schedule that included six days a week of office hours, house calls, surgeries, and baby deliveries. Known for his community involvement, he founded and performed in the town’s first band, served as president of the Young Men’s Club, and led a Boy Scout troop. He was president of the Lake County Tuberculosis Association for two decades and an active American Legion member from 1919 until his death in 1959.
Dr. Proxmire’s legacy extended to the thousands of babies he delivered throughout his career, including over 3,000 by 1955. That same year, he was honored at the Lake Forest Day parade, where many of his patients joined him in celebration. Known for his memorable personality, he often made house calls in a little red roadster, accompanied by his wire-haired terrier and a parakeet that perched on his pencil while he worked.
Dr. Proxmire’s contributions to Lake Forest spanned over five decades, and his dedication left a lasting impact on the community. His son, former Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire, would go on to serve in public office, continuing the family’s legacy of service.