Dr. James S. Mulhollan

Dr. James S. Mulhollan, age 71, of Little Rock, died April 15, 2013. Known to colleagues as Jim, to friends and family as Jimmy, Dad or Grandpa, Dr. Mulhollan was a prominent Little Rock knee surgeon and father of three children, two stepchildren, and a grandfather of five. Jim was born in Fort Smith in 1941 to parents Paige Elwood Mulhollan and Ruth Dickenson Berry Mulhollan, owners of a retail furniture business in Northwest Arkansas. He attended the U of A at Fayetteville, and graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis in 1966, with a residency in orthopedics at Campbell Clinic in Memphis before entering the US Navy, serving as Lt. Commander at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He returned to Little Rock in 1973 and joined a private orthopedic practice, Arkansas Orthopedic Associates. In 1979 he established a solo practice, Arkansas Knee Clinic. Dr. Mulhollan was a pioneer of arthroscopic knee surgery. In the late 70's arthroscopy was a nascent technology, with only a small handful of surgeons employing it, somewhat experimentally. Dr. Mulhollan recognized the arthroscope's potential to help patients overcome common knee problems without invasive procedures, and decided to bring it to Arkansas. He developed his abilities by traveling to places where other doctors were working with the arthroscope, and by inviting surgeons from as far away as Scandinavia to visit Little Rock and work with him in the operating room. As arthroscopy of the knee gradually became common, Dr. Mulhollan was recognized as one of its foremost practitioners. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, taught courses around the country, and held five US patents for surgical devices used in the procedure. He retired having performed over 10,000 cases of arthroscopic knee surgery. Jim was a great lover of sailing. He was active in the Grande Maumelle Sailing Club, where he had served as Commodore, and raced Flying Scotts. He also passionately loved dogs, birds, gardening, and cooking. He was a truly masterful, self-taught baker of breads. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Paige Mulhollan. Jim is survived by his wife of 18 years, Brenda; three children, Jimmy Mulhollan of Brooklyn, NY, Grace Ann Gore of Las Vegas, Nev., and Jack Mulhollan of Little Rock; two stepchildren, Misti Plyler of Wynne, and Brent Griggs of Little Rock; and five grandchildren, James and Charlie Mulhollan, Max and Magdalena Gore, and Kara Plyler; and his sister-in-law Mary Bess Mulhollan. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 4 p.m. at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, April 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lake Maumelle, Grande Maumelle Sailing Club, 12000 Maumelle Harbor Rd. Dress is strictly casual, and all who knew him are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Salvation Army, 1111 W Markham St., Little Rock, ARK. 72201 or the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Rd, Little Rock, Ark. 72210. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.