Over more than three decades, John McElligott focused his medical practice on the health and wellness of truck drivers, a population he believed was underserved. (St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund via Facebook)
February 19, 2026 11:30 AM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- Over more than 30 years, Navy veteran and physician Dr. John McElligott built a medical practice focused on the health needs of professional truck drivers.
- St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund leaders said his legacy will guide the organization’s continued support for drivers and families during health-related crises.
Dr. John McElligott, an advocate whose work through the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund helped thousands of truck drivers facing medical hardship, died Feb. 15. He was 80.
McElligott, a physician and Navy veteran, co-founded the nonprofit organization that has provided more than $5 million in assistance to drivers forced off the road because of illness or injury. SCF said his vision established a nationwide support network for professional drivers who often face severe financial strain when health problems keep them off the job.
“We know that he believed that truck drivers deserved the same access to care, compassion and dignity as anyone else,” SCF said in a statement. “His legacy lives on in every driver and family we continue to support.”
Over more than three decades, McElligott focused his medical practice on the health and wellness of truck drivers, a population he believed was underserved. He operated two occupational health clinics and became a frequent guest on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking channel with host Tim Ridley, where he regularly discussed medical issues and preventive care specific to the driver community.
Born Sept. 17, 1945, in Big Spring, Texas, and raised in Terminal, Texas, McElligott enlisted in the Navy in 1964. He served as a Navy corpsman attached to the Marines during the Vietnam War, completing four years of active duty before entering the reserves.
Today, we mourn the loss of Dr. John McElligott, Navy veteran, physician, and our co-founder.
His legacy will continue to roll on with every driver we serve. Rest easy, Dr. John. You will be greatly missed 💙 pic.twitter.com/G8Hdht9jzu
— Truckers Relief Fund (@truckerfund) February 17, 2026
After returning home, he enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program at Duke University, where he graduated at the top of his class. Duke later established the John McElligott Veterans Memorial Garden in his honor.
He spent more than 16 years working as a physician assistant, including serving as assistant medical director at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Parkland Hospital.
McElligott went on to earn a Master of Public Health in occupational health and safety from the University of Tennessee, attended medical school and completed his residency at Yale Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn. He finished at the top of his class at age 40 and became one of the first board-certified internal medicine physicians in Knoxville, Tenn. He was later elected a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Most of the biographical details about McElligott’s life and career were provided by his family.
His wife, Lisa McElligott, said his commitment to supporting drivers never wavered. “Dr. John worked tirelessly for more than 30 years to support truck drivers,” she said in SCF’s statement. “His dedication and passion for the industry are immeasurable. His sacrifices for others went above and beyond.”
SCF Executive Director Courtney Niemann credited McElligott with laying the groundwork for the organization’s modern operations. “I stepped into this role as a new director last year, deeply aware that I’d be standing on the foundation he built,” she said. “Because of his vision, more than 4,000 drivers have received assistance and over $5 million has gone directly toward helping families stay afloat during medical hardship.”
Donna Kennedy, former executive director of the organization, said his approach to care was rooted in a simple belief. “From the very beginning, Dr. John was driven by the belief that if truck drivers are the backbone of this country, then we must take care of them when they cannot take care of themselves,” she said.
McElligott also created the Water in Midland Career Fund through the Odessa College Foundation in 2020 to support students pursuing vocational and technical trades, with preference for veterans.
Generative AI assisted in the creation of this article.
