Hospital celebrates 50 years

First family of Miller County Hospital, (L-R) Rachel and Rosalind Gatian, Jo Anne and Harold Moore

A good crowd of citizens were on hand to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Miller County Hospital.

The crowd of people met in the lobby of the hospital Sunday evening at 1:30 p.m.

Hospital Authority chairman Ray Henley welcomed the crowd and gave a short history of when the hospital was built, where in has come, and hopefully where it is going. He stated that over the past 20 years the hospital has had its ups and downs, and it is an accomplishment to be celebrating the 50th year when so many small, rural hospitals have closed.

Henley then introduced Mayor Jerry Chapman. He told of his remembrances of the hospital as a child, and as mayor he told of the great needs for the hospital to serve the health needs, the economic viability of the community with jobs, attracts industry and services. He thanked everyone for keeping the hospital a very vital part of this area.

Next speaking was County Commission chairperson Barbie Womble. She thanked everyone for coming. She told that her father-in-law, Charlie Womble had served as a hospital board member. She thanked all those who served and help keep the hospital serving this area.

Henley then introduced two of the hospital board members present, Jerry Torbert and Carolyn Wyatt. He then asked all past hospital authority board members and doctors to be recognized.

Several of the past board members thanked those members who are working to keep our hospital a vital part of this community.

Henley then introduced the new CEO/CFO of the Miller County Hospital, Tom Meadows.

CEO/CFO Tom Meadows welcomed the crowd and thanked those who had confi- dence in his ability to help the hospital stay vital in every area that was possible. He said that when he got involved with the hospital business, there were 7000 hospital in the U.S.A. Today there are 5000, so there have been many changes in the health care business. It is a real testament to keep a hospital alive and viable in a community.

Again, he thanked everyone for coming. He then introduced Dot Wainright.

Dot, a former employee and public relations person for the hospital gave some history of how the hospital had survived and prospered over the years. She told of some of her fund-raising projects for the hospital and nursing home.

Dot then introduced the first patient and the first birth child in the Miller County Hospital who were The Harold Moore family who now live in Americus.

The story was that although the hospital wasn't quite ready to open, the baby of Harold and Rosalind Moore was ready to come into this world. Dr. T.W. Rentz called Dr. James W. Merritt and told him that Mrs. Moore was ready to deliver. Dr. James called a nurse and they opened the new hospital a little ahead of time and Rosalind Moore was the first baby to be delivered in the hospital.

The Moore family was introduced along with Rosalind Gatian's daughter, Rachel.

Dot said that Miller County Hospital is the "Heart" of the community.

She thanked all those who worked, laughed and cried to make this hospital what it is in this area.

Dr. T.W. Rentz told of the Jo Anne decided to open the hospital. Dr. James said, "Hell, I'll be over there in a few minutes and we'll do something." They did.

The crowd then enjoyed refreshments and lots of memories of those who helped make the Miller County Hospital 50th Anniversary and the hopes that it will be serving this area for another 50 years, or more.