Charles F. Ferguson was born on February 4, 1909, in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the first son of Thomas and Jennie Ferguson. After attending public schools in Marblehead, Charlie, as he was known to his friends, was graduated from Boston Latin School in 1925 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, cum laude, in 1929. He entered Harvard Medical School in the fall of 1929, just before the onset ofthe Great Depression, and graduated with his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1933.

Upon graduation from medical school, he began an internship in pediatrics at Boston City Hospital and the following year began a surgical residency at the Children's Hospital in Boston. He was the first surgical resident in Pediatric Surgery at the Boston Children's Hospital, entering a newly created training program developed by Dr William Ladd, the father of modern pediatric surgery.

After completing his training in surgery and otolaryngology, Dr Ferguson accepted a staff position at the Children's Hospital, Boston, in 1938 and thus became the first full-time pediatric otolaryngologist in the United States. I He held this position at the Children's Hospital until 1974.

Dr Ferguson's career was distinguished in many ways. He was internationally recognized as an outstanding laryngologist and bronchoesophagologist. He wrote the first textbook dedicated totally to pediatric otolaryngology. The first edition was published in 1972 and was translated into numerous languages around the world. His many chapters and peer-reviewed articles contributed immensely in the area of pediatric airway disorders.

Dr Ferguson was a member of numerous professional societies, including the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the New England Pediatric Society, and the New England Otolaryngological Society, which he served as President in 1964. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He served as Editor and President ofthe American Broncho-Esophagological Association, as well as Historian-Editor and President of the American Laryngological Association. These two organizations gave Dr Ferguson special recognition, with his reception of the Chevalier Jackson Award from the American Broncho-Esophagological Association in 1974 and the Newcomb Award from the American Laryngological Association in 1979.

Charlie was a founding member of the International Bronchoesophagological Society and an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology. He was specially honored by the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology with the establishment of the Charles F. Ferguson Award, which is given annually for outstanding clinical research.

Perhaps Charlie's dearest activity was his involvement in the Episcopal Church of Massachusetts. He served as vestryman at Trinity Church in Boston and worked diligently to establish a new church, St Peter's, in Osterville, Massachusetts, This parish would become the most successful in the diocese. Prior to his death, he was a member of St Boniface Church in Sarasota, Florida, and continued to be active in church affairs until his death.

Charles Ferguson was truly one of the giants of laryngology and the father of pediatric otolaryngology in North America. His attention to detail, devotion to teaching, and love of children were an immense inspiration to all whom he touched.

Dr. Ferguson passed away on March 19, 1996 in Sarasota. His passing marked the end of an era that included such greats as Holinger and Fearon; however his legacy to his family, his colleagues, his church, and especially his specialty will live on forever.