United States military man and physician, William Crawford Gorgas, first gained recognition for eradicating yellow fever and malaria in Havana, Cuba. Due to this amazing feat, in 1902, United States Surgeon General Dr. George M. Sternberg recommended Gorgas be placed in charge of solving the same problem in Panama. When the U.S. government assumed control of Panama from the French and took over construction of the Panama Canal, they were forced to abandon the project because of yellow fever. Gorgas was appointed chief sanitary officer of the zone in 1904, receiving commission to implement mosquito-control methods along the entire canal zone. By late 1907, his efforts had totally eliminated the disease from the area, enabling continued construction and successful completion of the canal. Gorgas was elected to the Alabama Hall of Fame in 1953.

Gorgas was born near Mobile, Alabama, the first child of General Josiah Gorgas who, originally from Pennsylvania...