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HMH reaches milestone during ground-breaking
Jim Pinson
Editor
NASHVILLE –“This is neither a beginning or an end,” said Howard Memorial Hospital Administrator Brian Bickel. “It is a milestone.”
Howard Memorial Hospital broke ground Friday morning with about 100 citizens of Howard County, architects and Arkansas Hospital Association members in attendance.
Reverend Willie Benson asked that God bless those who had helped plan, dedicate and whose efforts had brought us to this piece of ground that God had made.
Building committee chairman Ray Blakely shared a little history concerning the old HMH facility.
“I would like to say thank you to the ‘greatest generation’ that built the present structure of Howard Memorial Hospital,” said Blakely. “I believe that generation would appreciate the fact that we did not wait til someone came to help us build this hospital. But, we pulled up our own bootstraps and found a way to get it done.”
The existing HMH facility was constructed in August of 1946. It was to be named Howard Memorial Veterans Hospital in honor of the 59 men from Howard County that died in World War II.
In the 1947 election, the citizens of Nashville voted by a 10-1 margin in favor of the hospital with a cost of $200,000 and 3.5 mills were approved to support the hospital.
Blakely expressed appreciation for the architectural firm for sharing the hospital’s mission of providing ‘quality care close to home.’
“They share with Howard Memorial Hospital the mission of providing quality patient care,” said Blakely.
Blakely also expressed appreciation to the Hospital Foundation, which purchased the land for the new facility with donations raised from the citizens of Nashville and Howard County. He recognized Freda Davis for her leadership to lead the foundation.
Blakely expressed a tremendous amount of gratitude to the citizens of Howard County for their continued support of the hospital.
Chief of Staff Dr. Brian Oge’ stated that HMH has truly been blessed with its staff. Oge’ stated that the staff of HMH will be able to deliver the latest, high-quality, proficient medical care to this area while continuing to provide convenient and safe patient care.
“We hope this is a demonstration of our goal to take care of the citizens of Howard County,” said Oge’.
Oge’ also stated that the hospital will continue to look for additional services to offer the residents of the surrounding area that are not currently being offered.
“We would like to thank those who are committed to supporting the new facility,” said Oge’.
Bickel reiterated that the goal of HMH is to provide care and comfort to the citizens of Howard County.
As the ground-breaking party approached their shovels, Bickel proclaimed “We’re off.”
