MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Bain, Alday, Aldridge, Arnold, Beckett, Bell, Boyd, Brown (20th), Burnett, Carpenter, Faulkner, Gibbs, Hamilton, Holland, Horan, Jackson, Jennings, Kinkade, Lamar, Massengill, Mayo, Mettetal, Nelson, Perkins, Rogers (14th), Steverson, Sullivan, Taylor, Turner
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. STEPHEN C. REYNOLDS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BAPTIST MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, UPON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 44 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.
WHEREAS, Mr. Stephen C. Reynolds, the esteemed and highly respected President and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care of Memphis, Tennessee, has announced his intention to retire from his position after 44 years of dedicated and meritorious service; and
WHEREAS, during his career, he has been highly regarded in the national, regional and local business and health care communities for both his amazing accomplishments and his tremendous personal character; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the Baptist Memorial Health Care has experienced tremendous growth causing it to become the Memphis area's largest nonprofit health care system, and one of the top rated integrated health care delivery systems in the country; and
WHEREAS, this accomplishment was achieved by keeping the organization true to its nonprofit mission, which mirrors the three-fold ministry of Christ, preaching, teaching and healing; and
WHEREAS, Baptist Memorial is a complex and far-reaching health care system that includes 14 hospitals in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, as well as minor medical centers, home care and hospice programs, behavioral health centers, clinics and a number of other entities; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Reynolds earned a bachelor of science degree from Arkansas State University, a master of health administration degree from Washington University School of Medicine and then served as an officer in the United States Army; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, he was handpicked to serve as an administrative resident at Baptist Medical Center in Memphis, and after this position, he held a number of leadership positions for 23 years before he was tapped to lead the organization in 1994; and
WHEREAS, during his impressive management of Baptist Memorial, two additional metro-Memphis hospitals have been built, including one of the nation's few women's hospitals, as well as the Memphis area's first residential hospice facility, and a cancer center at Baptist Union City; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, the Baptist College of Health Sciences was established under his leadership, and to date, has prepared more than 1,000 people to enter health care careers, and construction is underway on a new pediatric emergency department at the Baptist Women's Hospital as well as Mid-South's first integrated cancer center, with both facilities being located on Baptist Memorial's flagship campus in Memphis; and
WHEREAS, the personal achievements of Mr. Reynolds rival his professional accomplishments, as he has chaired a number of regional and national health care organization, including Tennessee Hospital Association, CEOs Against Cancer, the Healthcare Institute, the National Quality Forum's National Patient Safety Task Force and the National Committee for Quality Health Care; and
WHEREAS, in the local Memphis area, he is a past chairman of the board of the Memphis-area Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Memphis chapter of the American Heart Association, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and Memphis Tomorrow; and
WHEREAS, he currently is board secretary of Ducks Unlimited Inc., and serves on the University of Memphis Board of Visitors and the boards of Trezevant Manor, Memphis Tomorrow, and Dixon Gallery and Gardens; and
WHEREAS, for the past 20 years, Mr. Reynolds has made significant contributions to the local, regional and national health care community through hard work, innovation and keen business sense that has contributed to an economic impact of $2.6 billion in the Memphis community; and
WHEREAS, it is our policy to commend the astute business acumen of men, such as Mr. Stephen C. Reynolds, who used their skills to enhance and improve the healthcare system and provided positive economic growth:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Mr. Stephen C. Reynolds, President and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care of Memphis, Tennessee, upon his retirement after 44 years of dedicated service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Stephen C. Reynolds and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.