Joseph Thurman graduated from Potosi High School in 1913, its second graduating class.  The class included just 2 graduates, Joseph Thurman and George Cresswell, both who would complete medical school and return to the county for lifelong parallel careers in medical service.  He then left Potosi and went to St. Louis University to begin his medical studies. On completion, he began an internship at City Hospital.  This internship, however, was interrupted by World War I and he was called into the Army.  He began his first medical practice as a First Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corps.  After his brief Army medical service, Dr. Thurman was called “back home” to help in the face of desperate medical need as the dreaded “Spanish Influenza” swept the country in 1918.  From then, he never left, carrying on a day-and-night, seven day a week medical practice for 57 years until his retirement.