About 1,400 people were served hamburgers, hot dogs and root beer floats Friday at the Texas County Memorial Hospital 50th anniversary party celebration.
“We were overwhelmed and very pleased by the way the community came out to join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the hospital,” said Wes Murray, chief executive officer.
The event coincided with National Hospital Week, which TCMH celebrates within the hospital each year. The hospital offers games for employees, an employee health fair and other fun, out of the ordinary activities to celebrate the week.
Each year, TCMH sponsors a barbeque for the employees on the Friday of National Hospital Week. But this year’s barbeque was opened to the public, and a 1950’s theme was added as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
A deejay provided 1950’s music, and those in attendance were invited to wear 1950’s costumes, to play games and participate in a cakewalk hosted by the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.
Jay Gentry, director of the Healthcare Foundation, reported raising $322 for the Foundation though the cakewalk. Hospital employees donated 42 cakes for the event.
The Community Blood Centers of the Ozarks held a blood drive at the hospital, and TCMH set a goal of collecting 50 units of blood for 50 years of service to the community. Seventy-nine units of blood were collected by the CBCO on Friday at TCMH to exceed the goal set by the hospital