Letter to Editor: Tributes To Dr. Billy V. Hall

— Editor,

In July of 1976 I first met Dr. Billy Hall. From that time until he retired he was the Chairman of the Board of Gravette Medical Center and Gravette Clinic.

He always had a policy that people are more important than money. He loved to work and help people. If he had an afternoon off and was only called back to the hospital once or twice, he was not too happy. If he was continuously busy with no possible time to rest, he was elated. He thoroughly enjoyed helping everyone.

Benton County and the surrounding counties soon learned that he never turned anyone away, so they sent everyone who could not access medical care elsewhere. Eventually this broke the system and others took control of the business office. They were more interested in the bottom line and therefore not as consumer friendly.

Billy had a great intellect and an awesome memory. A client could bring in a visiting relative or friend from New York or California and they could comment on a medical problem. He would quickly determine the nature of their problem and prescribe medication. Five years later he could run into them in town, not having seen them since, and greet them by name, noting their diagnosis, and ask if they were still taking the same medication and dosage.

It was my privilege to know him and work for him. I have often said that, if I could be just half the man he was, I would pleased.

Fred Thompson Decatur

Editor’s Note: Angie King, Nursing Clinic Supervisor at Ozarks Community Hospital, wrote this email to OCH employees and gave us permission to publish it in the Eagle Observer:

I started working at the Gravette hospital, now Ozarks Community Hospital, when I was still in high school. I have so many fond memories of Dr. Hall, getting "hit up side the head" with charts, taking a death defying ride in a rolling chair with an already broken ankle and Dr. Hall pushing at a full run down the hall, hiding my crossword puzzle so he wouldn’t finish it while I was working, speaking and reading a second language (Dr. Hall-vian) ... but I am most grateful for things he taught me, such as, nothing was more important than my education, how patient care should be done and to never stop teaching or learning, just to name a few.

I truly feel lucky to have gotten to work beside him and learn every day what health care was really all about. I know, without a doubt, that I am a far better nurse today because of the impact Dr. Hall made in my life; and for that I will always be grateful.

Dr. Hall touched the lives of all of his patients, all those he met and our community as a whole. I know he has either directly or indirectly touched each and every one of your lives as well.

There would not be a hospital standing here today without his dreams and determination. It is with that determination in mind, that I would like us to help make on impact on the horrendous disease that affected such an amazing man.

Angie King, Gravette

News, Pages 7 on 08/01/2012