September 16, 2002
McKibbens retiring after 25 years
at helm of Valley Baptist hospital
___HARLINGEN--Ben McKibbens will retire in January as president and chief executive officer of Valley Baptist Health System.
___James Springfield, currently executive vice president and chief operating officer, will succeed McKibbens as president. Springfield was named to his current post in 2001 as part of a planned order of administrative succession enacted by the system's board of directors.
___McKibbens, who has served the Valley hospital since 1977, will continue in a consulting role as needed after his Jan. 3 retirement.
___"Valley Baptist is the finest medical facility in South Texas. It is the obvious result of Ben's leadership," former Harlingen Mayor Bill Card told the Valley Morning Star.
___"The most striking thing about Mr. McKibbens is that he has a vision for the needs of the community and is able to bring the right people together and provide service and give them support," added Bill Elliott, director of corporate communications for the 540-bed hospital and related health system.
___"He's a man who truly allows the Spirit of Jesus Christ to make a difference in his life," his pastor, Don Higginbotham of First Baptist Church in Harlingen, told the Valley Morning Star. "He tries never to lay people off ... and has a tremendous loyalty to people who work there."
___McKibbens is former chairman of deacons at First Baptist Church and teaches an adult Sunday School class there. He is the son of a Baptist pastor.
___The retiring executive also was praised by Wes Lepard, chairman of the Valley Baptist Health System board of directors.
___"Ben is a man of principles and faith," he said. "He has strong values and a real vision for serving the community's needs in health care. He applies his values in every decision he makes in his family life, business life and the community life. He has lived our mission."
___Valley Baptist Health System is one of seven hospitals or health care systems affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___During his tenure, McKibbens led the Harlingen hospital not only to greatly expand its services but also to enhance its faith-based services.
___In addition to a strong chaplaincy program, the health system in 1996 launched the Family Practice Residency to train family physicians in a faith-based climate.
___McKibbens also led the health system to introduce cardiac catheterization and open-heart surgery at the hospital, a Heart and Vascular Institute, Children's Center and an expansion of cancer care. In 1997, the hospital was designated a Level III trauma center. Other physical additions include the east and west wings of the hospital, the south tower, north tower and radiation center, as well as the Medical Arts Pavilion, a dialysis center, retirement and health center, education pavilion and outpatient rehabilitation pavilion.
___The Baptist executive also is credited by community leaders as a vital force in persuading the University of Texas board of regents to select Harlingen as home for the Regional Academic Health Center, which is located adjacent to the medical center.
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