Chester Lee Bynum, M.D.

Chester Lee “Chet” Bynum, MD, respected radiologist of Norman, passed at the age of 86 on Saturday, July 29, 2017. He was born in Tulsa, OK to William “Bill” Frederick and Ada Elizabeth “Betty” (Patrick) Bynum on February 26, 1931.

Chet graduated from Oklahoma City Classen High School in 1949 where he met the love of his life, Maureen Durrett. The couple’s 65- year marriage began on May 24, 1952.

Chet graduated from the University of Oklahoma the same year and lettered in football as a member of the 1950 Championship Team. Chet was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Chet maintained memberships in the O Club, the OU Presidents’ Associates, and served on the board for the College of Arts and Sciences.

After graduating from OU, Chet entered the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine where he received his degree in medicine in 1957. He then had a Family Practice in Farmington, New Mexico for 10 years before moving his family to Denver, CO in 1966 to complete his residency in Radiology at St. Luke’s Hospital. After a brief return to Farmington, the family moved to Norman in 1970 where Dr. Bynum worked for Norman Regional Hospital until 1980. Dr. Bynum then founded Norman Radiology Services which embraced technologically advanced medical techniques. Dr. Bynum was well-loved by many of his patients, co-workers, employees, and peers. He was blessed with an angelic abundance of compassion, empathy, and kindness which touched all. Chet continued practicing medicine in various capacities until his retirement in 2010. While practicing medicine, Chet also devoted time to several Medical Associations: the OU Medical School Association, the Oklahoma State Medical Association, New Mexico State Medical Association, and the San Juan County Medical Association. He was instrumental in the founding of Health for Friends and thoroughly enjoyed mentoring incoming OU medical students. In 1999, Dr. Bynum served as the Norman Regional Hospital Chief of Staff.

Chet was passionate about conservationism and true to his nature enthusiastically devoted energy serving as a board member of the Oklahoma Wildlife Federation, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission. The Oklahoma Wildlife Federation named him Conservationist of the Year in 1995.

As a polymath, Dr. Bynum’s 30,000 books ranged from poetry to military history. Music tastes varied and he enjoyed listening to the goings on at Lake Wobegon. Sporting interests included: snow skiing, hunting, hiking, fishing, camping, farming, flying small aircraft, and bird watching. Chet ventured on several medical mission trips to Guatemala and Africa. Dr. Bynum contributed time and resources to many other honorable organizations, including the Norman Athletic Association, Bethesda, the Sam Noble Museum as a docent, St. Stephens United Methodist Church as the chair of admin board, the Norman Chamber of Commerce, and the Oklahoma Historical Society. No matter what the pursuit, Dr. Bynum embraced the process and focused on achieving positive outcomes.

Chet was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Betty Bynum, and brothers Bill, Paul, and Don Bynum. He is survived by: wife Maureen of the home; sons Brett Bynum and wife Marlene of Farmington, NM, Burl Bynum and fiancée Randa Sabbagha of Chicago, IL, and Ben Bynum and wife Jennifer of Norman; daughter Brenda Bynum and husband Jim Jenner of New York; brother Mike Bynum of Moab, UT; and grandchildren Jydonne Bynum, Jamar Bynum, Bailey Dowell and husband John, Austin Bynum and wife Morgan, Jack Bynum, Sam Bynum, and Blakely Bynum.