Newspaper Page Text
City of Peny 175th Birthday, Nov. 17, 1999, Houston Home Journal
Page 6B
One leader’s birthday notes on a
“wonderful little city and its people”
An Open Letter
My friend, Steve Lakis,
President of the State Legislative
Leaders Foundation, lives on “the
Cape” in Massachusetts. Is there a
more prestigious address in the
United States? Recently Steve
visited with Janice and me in
Perry (his third trip, I think), and
after his return home, he told me
that he said to his wife, Lynn, “1
believe that 1 would enjoy living
in Perry, Georgia.”
What a great compliment to
this wonderful little city and its
people!
1 have traveled all over this
country and in many parts of the
world (1 was in South America
last week), and let me say that in
my opinion, Perry is unique, a
“winner town," if you would.
And it is not just us “locals” that
sense this. 1 have been questioned
about Perry by reporters from
U.S.A. Today, the New York
A history of Perry Hospital
When Perry Hospital first opened a
private room cost just S2O per day
By Mary Jane Kjnnas
Houston Healthcare Complex
Until 1969, Perry’s medical ser
vices included a few physicians, but
no hospital at all. Residents of Perry
had to go out of town for hospital
care.
However, as Perry's and Houston
County’s population grew during
the 1950 s and 1960’5, civic and
business leaders saw an urgent need
for a hospital.
A group of dedicated citizens
pursued this goal, and in 1957, the
Houston County Board of
Commissioners established the first
Hospital Authority of Houston
County. Serving on this first
Authority were Stanley E. Smith, Jr.,
mayor of Perry, Houser B. Gilbert,
Wendell K. Whipple, Dreyfus L.
Fountain, Albert Hudson, Sr., A.P.
Yearwood, H. Alton Tucker, Charlie
L. Williams, Sr., Kemp A. Harrison
and Gene Wall.
In 1958, the citizens of Houston
County passed a $400,000 bond
issue to build a 50-bed hospital in
Warner Robins. This hospital
opened in 1960.
Four years later, additional hos
pital beds were needed, and
Houston County voters approved a
5900.000 bond issue to build a new
hospital in Perry and expand the
Warner Robins facility.
Funds from the bond issue,
Times, the Atlanta Journal
Constitution, to the Macon
Telegraph, the Houston Home
Journal and WMAZ television.
Perry is clean. A New York
Times reporter labeled it “pris
tine.” But beyond physical neat
ness, its city government has a
history of honesty and “doing the
right and legal thing.” Thank a
long line of outstanding mayors
and involved and concerned
members of the city council for
this.
Perry schools have been out
standing and many administra
tive officials, school board mem
bers and school teachers are owed
our admiration and appreciation.
Perry has had outstanding
leadership - both in the political
arena and in the business com
munity.
Most of the positive things
that have happened here did not
happen by accident or because we
along with matching state and fed
eral funds, were used to construct
the new Perry hospital, which was
built at a cost of $ 1,048,000, on 20
acres located on Morningside Drive.
On April 2, 1969, the new
Perry-Houston County Hospital
opened as a 45-bed acute care hos
pital with nine bassinets in the nurs
ery. On opening day,, the hospital
had four patients, including one
mother and new baby.
Initially, the hospital employed
70 people and a private room cost
approximately S2O per day.
Dr. J.L. Gallemore was Perry’s
first chief of staff. Other physicians
and dentists on the medical staff
included J.R. Arnall, L.A. Erbele,
A.G. Hendrik, B.L. Pilcher, Ronald
G. Severs, H.E. Weems, A.M.
Deloach, C.E. Graham and W.R.
Jeries.
Myron L. McDonald,
Administrator of the Warner Robins
facility, also served as the first
Administrator of the Perry Houston
County Hospital. Austin A. Click
was the assistand administrator of
the Perry facility, and Alberta Jarres
was the first director of nursing ser
vices.
The Perry-Houston County
Hospital was the first hospital in the
state to have an active Pink Ladies
Auxiliary before it opened its doors.
This Auxiliary, organized by the
were somehow “entitled.” They
happened because of great leader
ship!
But beyond physical attrac
tiveness, clean government, fine
schools, and outstanding leader
ship, it is my opinion that the one
thing that has made Perry signifi
cantly different and unique is the
strong involvement of churches
in our community. Look at the
record. The business, political
and school leaders have also been
involved church lay people, our
churches have greatly influenced
our community and we are better
for it.
Happy 175th Birthday to the
City of Perry. May the next 175
years be as good for Perry and its
citizens.
Sincerely,
Larry Walker
Larry Walker represents Perry
and the 14Is t District in the
Georgia State Assembly
Idaka Club of Perry, included 43
active members.
During the 1980 s. the Perry-
Houston County Hospital was
renamed as Perry Hospital and
expanded its facilities. The hospital
added a laboratory building, a new
emergency room intensive care unit
and physical therapy/respiratory care
therapy servies.
In 1996, the hospital completed
construction of the Family
Beginnings Maternity Center, featur
ing six birthing suites and a newborn
nursery, as well as a new outpatient
surgery center.
The hospital relocated the labora
tory inside the hospital and expanded
the radiology area and the medical
staff library in 1997. The former lab
oratory buiding was renovated for
physician office space.
Today, Perry Hospital, a part of
the Houston Healthcare Complex, is
a 45-bed acute care facility, employ
ing over 200 people, and offering
comprehensive services. The hospi
tal’s medical staff specializes in family
medicine, internal medicine, obstet
rics, gynecology, surgery, urology and
pediatrics.
Lora Davis is the administrator
and Dr. Horatio V. Cabasares is the
chief of staff. Eugene R. McDannald,
Jr., M.D. is the chief executive.
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903 CARROLL STREET, PERRY
987-4511
Happy Birthday
Perry!
We are proud to
join you in
celebrating
175 years of
good hometown values,
community spirit,
progress and
prosperity at
the Crossroads
of Georgia