Dr. David Settle Colvin, the namesake of Colvin Community Center in Radcliff and one of city’s most prominent doctors and a civic-minded leader, died Thursday at age 91.
Colvin, a native of Bandana in Ballard County, opened his medical practice in Radcliff in 1961 when the population of the city was less than 3,500. For the next 35 years, he touched many lives in the community, often operating as the sole physician in Radcliff.
Suzanne Broadwater of Radcliff was Colvin’s friends for decades. When her husband was serving in the Vietnam War, she took their son to Colvin to address his fever.
“I took him over there, and when I left, I was working for him part time,” she said.
She said the two became fast friends, watching sports together and performing in plays, a passion of Colvin’s. Broadwater had three children and she said Colvin helped her navigate chickenpox and strep throat with all of them.
“He became their doctor because he gave prescriptions for ice cream and hamburgers,” she said with a laugh.
Their friendship grew over their years. Colvin was a founder of the Hardin County Playhouse, an acting troupe in Hardin County, and he and Broadwater were in many plays together. She said he had a beautiful singing voice.
“He loved to sing, and he loved to cry,” she said. “He was a true man.”
In a November 2018 The News-Enterprise article, Colvin recalled getting the playhouse off the ground.
“We did struggle and we fought to get the theater going,” he said in the story. “It is such a pride to know that it has been able to survive because of like-minded people in the community for almost 50 years.”
Broadwater said she spoke to Colvin a week before he died. He told her he owed her a lunch.
“He said, ‘I’m paying,’ and I said, ‘Well, I’m going,’ ” she said. “Those were our last words to each other.”
She said she couldn’t think of a single time when Colvin couldn’t make a bad situation better.
“When I count my dear friends, he’s No. 1,” she said.
Bob Shipp, owner of North Hardin Insurance Agency in Radcliff, was close friends with Colvin, who he said was one of the best doctors he ever met.
“We shared a lot of thoughts and a lot of feelings together,” he said. “He was just a totally outstanding person.”
Shipp said Colvin introduced him to the game of tennis, something Shipp would continue to play to this day.
“It was a pleasure to be a friend of Dave’s all his life,” he said.
Colvin was involved with many civic activities. In addition to founding Hardin County Playhouse, he was a founding member of the Radcliff Rotary Club and Radcliff Christian Church Disciples of Christ, according to his obituary.
“He has been a pillar in this community, generously making time to support multiple civic endeavors,” state Sen. Dennis Parrett said at an October 2018 event honoring Colvin.
Colvin believed being so involved helped his medical practice.
“I think by having varied interests, … it probably makes you a better physician, gives you a better view,” he said in a 1987 story in The News-Enterprise.
In that story, Colvin said he was content with his life and described himself as happy and enthusiastic.
“I’m a cheerful person, self-disciplined,” he said. “I hope I’m a good physician.”
Arrangements for Colvin are pending with Chism Family Funeral Home in Vine Grove. Burial will be in Bethel Christian Church Cemetery in McCracken County.
