CLOVIS INDEPENDENT
August 8, 1979
Page 1A
Hospital plans outline
Leon Peters, diairman of the.
Fresno Community Hospital and
Medical Center Board of Directors
was tne principal speaker at the
annual meeting of the Clovis
Memorial Hospital Medical Staff last
Thursday night.
Peters drew a parallel between
growth of Fresno Community
Hospital and the growth facing the
Clovis facility due to a population
boom in the area.
He predicted that the present
hospital site would prove inadequate
in time and a new facility could be
built 13 miles away at Herndon and
Academy Avenues.
"Don't think this is too far
fetched," Peters cautioned the nearly
50 board members, physicians and
guests who were present. Peters said
Jand is also being acquired around
the present location at Sierra and
DeWitt Avenues to handle immediate
needs for growth.
"You have a tremendous area
here," Peters added. He predicted
Clovis*would become the center of a
health care service needed 24 hours a
day.
Peters further advised those in
attendance that it would take a team
effort to realize the long range
planning he saw possible.
"None of this can be accomplished
without your cooperation and wholehearted support," Peters challenged
the doctors and hospital staff.
Peters speech was a highlight of
the evening that saw awards passed
,out to four persons. They included
former hospital board members Gene
McGaughy and Lori Grossi, outgoing medical staff president William
F. Partlow, M.D. and an honorary
membership on the staff to C.I.
Pendergrass, who began his practice
of medicine in Clovis in 1931.
"It seems to be a shame I'm
getting up in my years in my practice
and I may not be here to see it
happen," Dr. Pendergrass remarked
of Peter's predictions. "But I believe
what he supports is true." Dr.
Pendergrass, who has greatly
reduced his practice added, "I'm not
announcing my retirement, but it will
have to come soon." Dr. Pendergrass is a native Clovite.
McGaughy and Grossi were
former members of the hospital
board, McGaughy from 1960-79 and
Grossi, 1959-79. Both will continue
their service to the hospital by spear
heading ticket sales for the Harvest
Festival set for Sept. 15 at
Grundfos Pump Co.
Andy Williams is believed to be the
headliner of the entertainment that
will be offered along with a barbecue
dinner. Tickets are priced at $20
each. Proceeds from the event will go
toward providing an ICU for the
local facility.
In discussing the merger of Clovis
Memorial and Fresno Community
Hospitals last year, Peters recalled
conversations he had with Einar
Cook, who remains on the combined
hospitals board after serving on the
Clovis unit.
"We wanted Clovis to have the
finest health care center," Peters
related in noting steps leading to the
merger of the hospitals.
In reporting on property acquisition around the hospital, Peters
revealed that offices to accommodate
eight to 10 new doctors will be built
to attract new doctors to the area.
Another 40x160 foot structure will
provide much needed storage space
for the hospital, Peters revealed.
In drawing comparisons between
[See "Growth," Page 8A]
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