House Resolution 126

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. BEN CARMICHAEL FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HATTIESBURG AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Dr. Ben Carmichael has faithfully served the people of the City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for 34 years in various areas of medicine, and it is with great appreciation that we recognize his dedication and devotion to the medical profession upon his retirement; and

WHEREAS, a native of McDonough, Georgia, Dr. Carmichael, who was Hattiesburg's first board-certified cardiologist, retired from active practice on July 31, 2008; and

WHEREAS, in June 1974, Dr. Carmichael was recruited from the United States Army by then Forrest General Hospital Administrator Lowery Woodall and Hattiesburg Clinic representatives Dr. Fred Tatum and Dr. Richard Clark to establish a cardiology program for Forrest General Hospital and Hattiesburg Clinic; and

WHEREAS, creating a cardiology program for Forrest General and Hattiesburg Clinic at that time was like building something from nothing as the hospital's only service for heart patients consisted of a four-bed coronary care unit and patients who required cardiac catheterization or bypass surgery were transferred to Jackson, Mississippi, or New Orleans, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Carmichael soon began tirelessly working with area leaders to design the hospital's new cardiology unit, but these efforts required much time and patience as it was not until February 1978 that Dr. Carmichael was able to begin the kind of heart catheterization work at the hospital that he had performed regularly in the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, in 1976, under Dr. Carmichael's leadership, Forrest General became the first area hospital to install a pacemaker via the Swan-Ganz method and in 1985, was the first area hospital to carry out the angioplasty procedure, which was performed in the Forrest General Catheterization Laboratory by Dr. Gerald Lowrimore and Dr. Carmichael; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Carmichael has been able to see the evolution of Forrest General Hospital and Hattiesburg Clinic, which is now equipped with the latest medical technology and a full staff of cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons; and

WHEREAS, after completing medical school at Emory University, Dr. Carmichael entered the United States Army in 1965, doing an internship and internal residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and then fulfilling a cardiology fellowship and serving on staff at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Carmichael had the opportunity to treat two United States Presidents during his career, as he attended President Dwight Eisenhower while at Walter Reed, where the President was recovering from a heart attack, and he attended President Lyndon Johnson while at Brooke Army Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, when not saving lives Dr. Carmichael is a music lover who started playing the piano in the second grade and took lessons through his first two years of college, under the tutelage of Tom Brumby, who was the Chair of Georgia State University's Piano Department; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Carmichael has since played a season for the City of Hattiesburg Concert Band as well as filled in as a substitute organist at Trinity Episcopal Church; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Carmichael has received many awards and recognitions including: 1986 Hub Award recipient; 1997 President of Southern Miss's Partners for the Arts; 2000 Friend of Southern Miss Award; and Vice President of the Board of the Aids Services Coalition; and

WHEREAS, upon his retirement Dr. Carmichael left the medical community in Hattiesburg and the Magnolia State in general in a much better condition than he had found it, by bringing attention to the medical needs of the area and then leading the medical community in formulating innovative ways to implement the much needed service; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to honor outstanding citizens such as Dr. Carmichael, whose career serves as an example to all citizens of the State of Mississippi and whose legacy of service to the medical community is exemplified by outstanding leadership, dedication and prudent judgment:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the remarkable career of Dr. Ben Carmichael, congratulate him upon his retirement, express deepest appreciation for the hard work and many sacrifices he made to serve the people of our state and extend best wishes for many years of good health and enjoyment in his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Ben Carmichael, to Forrest General Hospital and Hattiesburg Clinic and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.