Dr. Walter L. “Pete” Peterson Jr., Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, died on Aug. 6 at a Houston assisted living center, of progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disease. He was 72.

Dr. Peterson, who as a student won UT Southwestern Medical School’s Ho Din Award, was a gifted lecturer who worked to instill his caring clinical manner to residents. He trained generations of gastroenterologists during his 30-year career at UT Southwestern and also treated patients at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Dr. Peterson retired from UT Southwestern in 2004. After relocating, he became a volunteer part-time Professor in 2007 at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, where he also saw patients.

In 2012, Dr. Peterson moved to Houston, where his wife had family. He received an appointment from the Baylor School of Medicine to see patients but was unable to teach because of the progression of his disease.

He was a world-renowned and distinguished investigator, teacher, and clinician. Dr. Peterson co-founded the consulting group EBMed (Evidence Based Medicine) and was co-editor of the medical journal AP&T (Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics).

“Dr. Pete,” as his friends and family called him, did not want a memorial service but requested that a party be held with “only the best wine served.” To that end, the family hosted two events, one in Houston and one in Dallas. On campus, a celebration of life took place at UT Southwestern on Oct. 3 in the Alfred William Harris Faculty-Alumni Center.

Dr. Peterson was born in Abilene and grew up in San Antonio, where his father was an Army surgeon. Dr. Peterson, a 1964 graduate of Southern Methodist University, earned his medical degree from UT Southwestern in 1968, receiving the medical school’s Ho Din Award in recognition for his outstanding knowledge, understanding, and compassion.

He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital before continuing postdoctoral training in gastroenterology at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Peterson served in the Army at Letterman Army Medical Center at the Presidio of San Francisco before joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 1975.

Dr. Peterson is survived by his wife, Linda Kay; sons Greg Peterson, Tres Thompson and daughter-in-law Gail, Russell Thompson and daughter-in-law Jennifer; five grandchildren; one sister, Kay Doebner; and his former wife, Janet Pearce.

Memorials may be sent in his honor to CurePSP.org (30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 201, Timonium, Maryland 21093) or Abandoned Animal Rescue of Tomball, aartomball.org (419 E. Hufsmith Road, Tomball, Texas 77375).