Dr. George F. Heath, who practiced medicine in Monroe from 1884 until he died in 1908, founded the American Numismatic Association.

Dr. Heath enjoyed collecting coins as a way to gain knowledge about world history, according to the ANA Web site, www.money.org. But because he was isolated in a small town, he reached out to other numismatists by pushing a four-page leaflet, "The Numismatist," in 1888.

The leaflet�s circulation grew, so in 1891, Dr. Heath proposed starting the American Numismatic Association. "There is nothing like the alliance of kindred pursuits to stimulate growth and interest," he wrote.

The ANA was founded during a meeting in October, 1891, in Chicago with 61 charter members.

The ANA now is the largest nonprofit numismatic organization of its kind in the world, the group says.

The ANA�s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., houses the largest numismatic library in the world along with a museum.

Besides being a physician, Dr. Heath served four terms as mayor of Monroe and was the first president of the Monroe County Medical Society.

He died unexpectedly on June 16, 1908, and is buried at Woodland Cemetery.

To read the complete article, see:Monroe doctor a giant in coin world(www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090920/ARTS/709209990)