Hospital Foundation Honors Brannan
Posted on Tuesday, February 10th, 2004
The Love County Health Center Foundation paid special recognition at its annual meeting Monday night to Claude Brannan for long-time support of Mercy Health/Love County Hospital.
Brannan, 83, is a co-founder of the Brannan Trust, which has been giving to the hospital for over 30 years. He and his late brother, Bill, both Loves Valley ranchers, established the trust “for the purpose of keeping the hospital open and as good as it can be,” Claude Brannan said.
Over the years, the trust has been responsible for almost $1 million in total donations. This year, a record $51,000 in trust income was made available to the foundation for spending on hospital equipment, nurse/technician education, and other needs, reported foundation chairman Arthur Rickets.
“You and your family have done a wonderful job and set a perfect example for the community,” he told Brannan.
Brannan and foundation members listened as Richard Barker, hospital administrator, read a list of projects completed with trust funds.
Four students are completing their registered nurse degrees. They join more than 50 nurses and technicians over the years who have borrowed, interest-free, from the trust, to complete their educations. They have received generous payback periods or had loans forgiven entirely after working at the hospital for a minimum period.
Recent purchases include equipment for the rehabilitation wing, a ventilator in the cardio-pulmonary department, equipment for the ambulance and trauma rooms, computers in the radiology lab that send results electronically to the clinic, training materials in pediatric life support and handling of hazardous materials, and establishment of a preceptor program, which allows medical students from OU, Texas Women’s University, University of Texas-Arlington, and California College to visit and train in Love County.
Foundation money also has been used to make purchases at the food pantry and build the pantry building. Simply having the foundation as a non-profit entity enables the hospital to reach out and participate in community improvements.
Examples include serving as the holder of funds for Leadership Love County, the child abuse multidisciplinary team, and the Turning Point coalition. Barker said the foundation is planning to write grant applications for a number of new initiatives in 2004.
Brannan had never before attended a meeting of the foundation, although it was created under terms of the trust for the purpose of making decisions as to how to spend trust income.
“We really didn’t do it for recognition, and the people at the foundation and hospital have been doing a good job without me being here, but I was glad to hear the list and know that the trust has done even more than we anticipated,” he added.
The foundation members are appointed by the County Commissioners. In addition to Rickets, members include Lynn Puckett, James Moffitt, Nikki Powell, Brent Hartin, Willis Choate, Wayne Bond, Burl Bone, Ken Delashaw, Ann Langston, Susan Cochran, Gary Elmore, Betty Wolfe, and H.G. Spivey.
Trustees of the trust include Delashaw, Puckett, and Gene Washburn.