Donald Bruce Halverstadt

Donald B. Halverstadt, M.D., 91 years old, died September 9, 2025, peacefully at home. He spent over 50 years practicing Urology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, specializing in pediatric urology at the Children’s Hospital. The Pediatric Urology Clinic there is named in his honor, the Donald B. Halverstadt Center of Excellence in Pediatric Urology.

Don was born in Cleveland, OH, playing high school basketball which began his lifelong love for the game. He attended Princeton University, graduating with high honors. He then attended “trade school” at Harvard Medical School, graduating with honors. He did his residency in Urology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. His residency was interrupted in 1962 while he served two years in the US Public Health Service at the Navajo Indian Hospital in Shiprock, New Mexico where he served as Chief of Surgery. He then returned to Boston to complete his training in Urology.

In 1967, he was asked to come to Oklahoma City to start a children’s urology program and a kidney transplant program. He performed the first kidney transplant in the State of Oklahoma in 1968. He always felt he would spend one or two years here and return to Boston. When asked why he stayed in Oklahoma, he would say “there was more opportunity in Oklahoma than I could say grace over.” He stayed almost 60 years.

Academic appointments included Professor of Urology and Pediatrics, OU College of Medicine. Hospital appointments included Chief, Pediatric Urology Service, 1967-2001, and then senior physician, Donald B. Halverstadt Center of Excellence, 2001-2013, both at the Children’s Hospital.

In 1974, the children’s hospital was transferred to the Department of Human Services. Don was asked by Lloyd Rader, DHS Director, to help renovate the hospital to then join with a newly renovated University Hospital to form the State of Oklahoma Teaching Hospitals. Don was then asked to be the Chief Executive Officer for these institutions. He retired from this position in 1984 to continue his private practice of urology.

In 1988, he was appointed to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education by Governor Henry Bellmon, serving until 1993. He was then appointed to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents by Governor David Walters, serving until 2000. He greatly enjoyed serving both these public appointments.

He joined the Board of Directors of Triad Hospitals, serving from 2000-2007, and then served on the Board of Directors of the successor company, LHP Hospital Group, from 2007-2013. He was a member of the Board of Directors of BancFirst of Oklahoma from 2004-2016, and a member of the Board of Governors for the OU Medical Center Hospital System, 1998-2015.

The most special time of his life was spent as Senior Coach of the OU Men’s Basketball team with Kelvin Sampson from 1996-2004. He travelled with the team to all their away games and was always seen sitting at the end of the players’ bench wearing his trademark bowtie.

He loved the game of golf, although he had been physically unable to play the last several years. Very dear to his heart were the many golf trips organized by his great friend, Stan Ball, to golf courses around the country, including Pebble Beach, Palm Springs, and Kiawah Island.

Don was preceded in death by his wife of almost 53 years, Margaret Halverstadt. He is survived by his wife Liz Duncan, and his children Donna Halverstadt and children Samantha Paige and Luke, Jeff Halverstadt (Arlene) and children Hope and Chloe, Amy Halverstadt and children Tyler and Dylan, and Tim Duncan (Maddie) and children Lilah and Millie.

Visitation with the family will be at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK, on Monday, September 15, 2025, from 6-7:00pm. 

Memorial service will be at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK on Tuesday, September 16th 10:00 am.