The streets of the South Texas Medical Center are not paved with gold. But they are named after a stellar collection of individuals who helped develop and expand one of the nation's leading medical centers. Here's a look at some of the people behind the names.

Floyd Curl Drive

Named for: A district superintendent of the Conference of United Methodist Churches. Curl was instrumental in securing the funding for the Methodist Hospital, the first hospital in the South Texas Medical Center. Methodist is located at the corner of the street that bears his name and Medical Drive.

Sid Katz Drive

Named for: A charter member of the board of trustees of the San Antonio Medical Foundation, Katz was a central figure in securing the donation of the original 171 acres of the South Texas Medical Center, the site of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, University Hospital and the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. He later helped spearhead the purchase of an additional 434 acres.

Charles Katz Drive

Named for: The son of Sid Katz. Like his father, the younger Katz took an active interest in property and was a long-standing chair of the Land Use Committee of the San Antonio Medical Foundation. In addition, he was chairman of the board of the San Antonio Medical Foundation from 1982 through 1986.

Ewing Halsell Drive

Named for: A Texas rancher and philanthropist whose foundation, in the early 1960s, contributed approximately one-third of the funds needed to purchase an additional 434 acres comprising the South Texas Medical Center.

Merton Minter Drive

Named for: The physician and chairman of the University of Texas Board of Regents who played an important role in the passing of legislation allowing for the creation of the South Texas Medical School. Later, he was chairman of the board of trustees of the San Antonio Medical Foundation.

Tom Slick Drive

Named for: A charter member of the board of trustees of the San Antonio Medical Foundation. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research and Southwest Research Institute. He was instrumental in obtaining matching funds for the construction of the Teaching Hospital.

John Smith Drive

Named for: A spokesman for the Bexar County Medical Society who set in motion the creation of the South Texas Medical Center.

L.E. Fite Drive

Named for: A man who aided Sid Katz and Melrose Holmgreen to acquire an additional 400 acres for the Medical Center.

Louis Pasteur Drive

Named for: The French chemist and biologist who founded the science of microbiology and discovered the cure for rabies.

Melrose Holmgreen Drive

Named for: One of the original trustees of the San Antonio Medical Foundation who helped the land acquisition committee to purchase an additional 400 acres of adjacent land.

Salk Drive

Named for: Jonas Salk, who developed the first vaccine against polio.

Von Scheele Drive

Named for: Edgar Von Scheele, one of the four owners of the 200 acres of land donated to the Medical Foundation and Methodist Hospital.

SOURCES: “History of San Antonio Medical Foundation and South Texas Medical Center” by Wilbur L. Matthews; the South Texas Medical Foundation.

“Place Names of San Antonio: plus Bexar and Surrounding Counties’, Third Edition,” by David P. Green; and Express-News archives.