Dr. Craig Manifold, who was appointed the local health authority for Blanco County last March once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, died unexpectedly.

Manifold served as an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Health Sciences at the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He also served as medical director for several EMS agencies in the San Antonio area, which included as the local health authority for Blanco County.

According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, he served as a joint surgeon for the Texas Air National Guard, and Commander for the 149th Medical Group of the Texas Air National Guard in San Antonio, until his retirement last year.

“He was devoted to advancing military medicine and the military medics who served our country,” the NAEMT said in a statement.

According to the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Manifold received his DO in 1993 from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia. He received his bachelor’s degree in physiology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1989. His residency in emergency medicine was done in 1997 through Joint Military Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency at San Antonio. He joined the department of surgery in 2009.

“He served as EMS medical director for many Texas services and was an invaluable member of the medical director committee of our state EMS advisory committee. Most importantly, he was our friend, colleague and mentor. We will miss him dearly,” said Dr. Jeff Jarvis, co-chair of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians’ EMS Committee, in a statement released by the American College of Emergency Physicians.