House Concurrent Resolution 102

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE, WORKS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. LOWERY WOODALL AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Mr. Lowery Woodall departed this earthly life to enter into eternal rest with his Heavenly Father, causing great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, a visionary and a determined leader, Mr. Woodall, in 1962, assumed the duty of Executive Director of Forrest General Hospital, which was founded in 1952, situating the hospital on sound financial footing during his first year; and

WHEREAS, a native of Bogue Chitto, Lincoln County, Mississippi, Mr. Woodall graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in accounting and economics, and upon the completion of his studies, he accepted a direct commission in the United States Army with an assignment to the Army's Medical Service Corps in Germany; and

WHEREAS, as an officer in the Medical Service Corps, Mr. Woodall was vital in the management of more than two dozen medical care facilities in Europe, ranging from general hospitals to ambulance companies; and

WHEREAS, after receiving his discharge in 1953, he later graduated from the Basic and Advanced Institutes of the American College of Hospital Administrators and expanded his medical service management career with ten years at the Mississippi Baptist Hospital in Jackson, first as office manager and later as assistant administrator; and

WHEREAS, in his efforts to ensure the growth and development of the nursing field, Mr. Woodall, in cooperation with Dr. T.E. Ross, Jr., of Hattiesburg, arranged to transfer student nurses from the Hattiesburg Methodist Hospital's School of Nursing to the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing when Methodist closed its school in 1962; and

WHEREAS, recognizing Forrest General's strategic location in South Mississippi and its potential for rapidly developing as a regional hospital, Mr. Woodall began building a foundation of staff, physicians and services in his pursuit of developing a regional referral center with a full scope of services; and

WHEREAS, adopting a long-range expansion plan created by nationally known consultant Jacque B. Norman of Greenville, South Carolina, Mr. Woodall, by following and updating the plan through his years of administration, which concluded with his retirement in 1996, transformed Forrest General Hospital from a $1.3 million facility to a property valued in excess of $300 million and from a 100-bed hospital to a 537-bed regional medical facility; and

WHEREAS, under his administration, the hospital saw the additions of the Lowery A. Woodall Outpatient Surgery Facility, the Pine Grove Psychiatric and Chemical Dependence Treatment Facility, the Rehabilitation Resource of South Mississippi, Your Family BirthPlace, the Carl R. Hale Radiation Therapy Center, the Pine Grove Life Focus Center and the Pine Grove Adolescent Pavilion; and

WHEREAS, a pioneer blazing trails for Forrest General's revitalization, Mr. Woodall maintained professional affiliations with South Mississippi Health Services, Forrest General Health Services, American College of Hospital Administrators, DuBard School Advisory Board of the University of Southern Mississippi, Forrest County Industrial Park Commission, Southeastern Hospital Conference, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi Commission on Hospital Care, BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Forrest County Industrial Board, Hattiesburg Rotary Club, Mississippi Heart Fund and the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation; and

WHEREAS, his business affiliations have included the boards of the Bank of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Industrial Park Commission, Blue Bonnet Life Insurance Company, Capstone Corporation, Automated Health Systems, Advision, Diversified, The Reciprocal Group and Healthcare Providers; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Woodall was active in civic and community involvements, and in addition to being a faithful member of First Baptist Church - Hattiesburg, he also contributed his time and efforts to the Pine Burr Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, University of Southern Mississippi Big Gold Club and the William Carey College Century Club; and

WHEREAS, widely acclaimed and respected by his fellow peers in the medical field, citizens of Hattiesburg and the entire State of Mississippi, Mr. Woodall was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hattiesburg Area Chamber of Commerce in 1991, "Executive of the Year" by the Mississippi Hospital Association in 1995, in the same year Forrest General simultaneously received an "Excellence Award" in the Mississippi Quality Awards Competition, and he was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame in 2000; and

WHEREAS, having enjoyed the love, admiration, respect and support of his family, Mr. Woodall's presence will be greatly missed, but the legacy of his memory will forever be cherished in the lives, hearts and memories of his survivors, including: his wife, Patricia Woodall; son, Lowery A. Woodall, Jr.; stepsons, Jerry Ligon and Joe Ligon; daughters, Linda Carol Woodall and Margaret Michelle Woodall; and a host of other relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence in the lives of such instrumental Mississippians as Mr. Woodall, whose stellar performance in his 35 years of administration allowed him to become an icon to the business of healthcare, recognized as one of the most outstanding hospital administrators throughout the country:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life, works and accomplishments of Mr. Lowery A. Woodall and express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to his wife, Mrs. Patricia Woodall, to cherish on behalf of the family, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.