William Frederick (Fred) Lucas, M.D., gifted physician and medical administrator and beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away August 11 in Austin, Texas. He was 85.

Fred was born in Georgia in 1933 to William (Bill) Frederick Lucas and Alma Sue Miller Lucas, and his family moved to Texas when Fred was very young. He attended school in Port Arthur and participated in several sports, with football giving him acclaim and opportunity. He was awarded the Sheriff Charley Meyer trophy for most valuable lineman in Jefferson County.

It was in junior high school that Fred met and befriended Margaret Leach, his future wife of 63 years. Fred and Margaret served together as leaders on the school’s student council.

Fred’s football scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas set him on a path to become the first member of his family to earn a bachelor’s degree. Fred then went on to obtain a medical degree from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, followed by an internship and residency at Baylor University Medical Center.

In 1962, Fred entered the U.S. Air Force, for service as a flight surgeon during the Vietnam War, he was awarded an Air Medal with Valor.

After military service, Fred returned to Dallas, where he entered administrative medicine, initially joining Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas as associate medical director, then Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana as vice president. Working with the American Medical Association, he served on the Medical Advisory Committee of National Blue Cross Blue Shield and was chairman of five Professional Standards Review Assessment teams.  He was nationally recognized as an authority on reasonable charge methodology, medical policy, and utilization review.

In 1976, Fred accepted a position in Austin, enabling him to return to Texas. He was named corporate medical director of Electronic Data Systems, where he developed claims payment and utilization review policies for the Texas Medicaid Program.  In 1985, Fred founded Lucas Medical Associates, developing free-standing imaging centers and consulting with physician groups on hospital projects and surgery centers.

Fred’s loyalty to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School continued throughout his lifetime. He championed the expansion of the student union building during his two years of service as president of the Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees. Fred was also a member of the Travis County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association’s 50 Year Club.

An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fred served for decades as a teacher and leader in his local congregations until the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Fred is survived by his wife, Margaret Alice Lucas, their four sons and wives, Rick Lucas and JoAnn of Austin, Marshall Lucas, M.D. and Destiny of The Woodlands, Texas, Jeffrey Lucas and Stacy Smith, M.D. of Weston, Massachusetts, and Jason (Jay) Lucas, D.O. and Katauna of Farmington, New Mexico, and grandchildren Derick and his wife, Lindsey, Ryan and his wife, Emily, Jennifer and her husband Brandon Haile, Marc and his wife, Kylie, Kevin and his wife Bailey, Joscelyn, Josh, Aubrey, Asa, Ross, Barri, Natalya, Jacob, Sam, and Kale, and 12 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ronald Devere, Dr. Sarah Daniels, and Hospice Austin for their excellent care.

A viewing will be held at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 411 RR 620 South, in Lakeway, on Friday, August 17, at 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 18, at 10 a.m. at the LDS Church, 12001 Bee Caves Road, in Bee Cave.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his memory to AGE of Central Texas (Austin Groups for the Elderly), 3710 Cedar Street, Austin, Texas, 78705, or the Alzheimer’s Association, Capital of Texas Chapter, 3520 Executive Center Drive #140, Austin, Texas, 78731.

Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Lake Travis (512) 263-1511. Remembrances may be left at www.wcfish.com