Feather senior editor Addison Shultz, ’21, interviews Dr. Fitzalbert M. Marius about his long and accomplished life, Nov. 9. Marius grew up in New York City with six siblings and enlisted in the U.S. Army as a sophomore in college serving from DeC. 1942 to Feb. 1946. Schultz talks with Marius as he gives a glimpse into his life as an African American during an era with many obstacles, including his time in the service.

Dr. Marius first came to Fresno in 1954 where he interned at Fresno County General Hospital (now Community Regional Medical Center) where he and Dr. Byron Evans performed the first open heart surgery in Fresno, CA in 1958. Considered a pioneer of heart surgery in Fresno, Dr. Marius continued practicing at multiple hospitals until retiring after about 58 years of being a surgeon on January 12, 2012.

With Veterans Day on the horizon, the Fresno Christian community honors this holiday through a collaboration with Paul Loeffler and his Radio broadcast, Hometown Heros. Bringing Dr. Marius on campus to speak to the student body in an on-stage dialog during the annual Veteran’s Day chapel, Nov. 13,  gives students a primary source experience with a WWII vet and iconic member of our community.

The Fresno’s Veteran’s Day parade, which is said to be the largest in the nation, will be hosted downtown Fresno, Nov. 12, and begins at 11:11 a.m. This is the first year that the parade is not on the actual holiday.

For more information look for The Feather article written by journalist Addison Shultz, ’21.

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