MITCHELL NAMED CHAIRMAN OF NMHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TUPELO, Miss. -- Guy W. Mitchell, III., a senior shareholder with Mitchell, McNutt and Sams, is the new chairman of the North Mississippi Health Services Board of Directors. He was elected at the annual board meeting Oct. 26.

“The NMHS Board of Directors has 35 members. Board members are not paid, and we view their membership as a service to the community,” said John Heer, NMHS president and chief executive officer. “The directors volunteer many hours each month serving on the Board itself and the various committees of the Board.”

“We are at a new era with a new CEO. As a member of this community and the Board, I think we’re already making strides in correcting the public’s perception that we had gotten too big to care,” Mitchell said. “I’m looking forward to helping improve the public’s awareness of the good work provided by this health care organization. We’re blessed with tremendous staff and talented specialists and subspecialists. NMHS’ board and leadership are working arm in arm with elected officials to provide the best health care for our patients.”

“We welcome the leadership skills that Guy Mitchell will provide for our organization,” Heer said. “Mickey Holliman, the outgoing chairman, has provided outstanding leadership throughout his tenure. Serving as chairman of the NMHS Board requires a significant commitment, and he has done an outstanding job leading NMHS.”

Mitchell is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Following active duty as a lieutenant commander in the Judge Advocate General Corps in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1968-1972, Mitchell joined the law firm founded in 1904 by his grandfather, Guy Mitchell Sr.

Mitchell holds the distinction of being the first attorney in the hospital’s history to serve as chairman of the board.

His community involvement includes membership in the board of directors for several corporations and non-profit groups, including BancorpSouth, CDF, CREATE, United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi, Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation and Mississippi Economic Council. He and his wife, Susan, are members of First United Methodist Church.

Doug Clark, M.D., a board-certified radiologist with Premier Radiology was elected vice chairman. In addition, Scott Reed, first vice president and branch manager of Hilliard Lyons; Bobby Martin of Ripley, chairman of the board, president and CEO with The Peoples Bank; Wayne Slocum, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with Obstetrics-Gynecology Associates, P.A., Clinic for Women; Al Tidwell of Hamilton, Ala., attorney and former Marion County district attorney; and Lewis Whitfield, development officer for M&F Bank; were named to the Board. Reed is filling the unexpired term of Mike Walker who has relocated to Jackson.

Other members of the Board of Directors are:

· Kathy Aycock, Ph.D., retired educator

· Kyle Chandler of West Point, vice president of Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance Inc.

· Leon Clay, retired general manger of Coca-Cola Bottling Works

· David Cole, Ph.D., of Fulton, president of Itawamba Community College

· James Cooper, M.D., a board-certified anesthesiologist with Tupelo Anesthesia Group, P.A.

· John T. Foy, president and CEO of Furniture Brands International

· Hassell Franklin of Houston, chairman and president of Franklin Industries

· L.E. (Bo) Gibens, chairman and CEO of Lucky Star Industries

· Barney Guyton, M.D., a board-certified gastroenterologist with Digestive Health Specialists, P.A.

· M. Paul Haynes, Jr. of Baldwyn, chairman and CEO of Farmers and Merchants Bank

· John Heer, NMHS president and CEO

· Richard Heyer, M.D., a board-certified anesthesiologist with Tupelo Anesthesia Group, P.A.

· Mickey Holliman, chairman of the board and CEO of Furniture Brands International

· David Irwin, M.D., a board-certified cardiologist with Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi

· Jim Kelley, president and CEO with BancorpSouth

· Larry Kirk, president and CEO of Hancock Textiles

· Wilson Long, executive vice president with BancorpSouth

· Zell Long, assistant director for community development with City of Tupelo

· Sherry Martin, M.D., a board-certified endocrinologist with The Endocrine Clinic

· Robin McGraw, president and CEO with Peoples Bank and Trust Co.

· Hughes Milam, M.D., a board-certified urologist with Urology, P.A.

· Buddy R. Montgomery of Pontotoc , president and CEO of First National Bank

· Mabel Murphree, Ph.D., regional community development specialist with Itawamba Community College Tupelo campus.

· Aubrey Patterson, chairman and CEO with BancorpSouth

· John Robinson, division vice president for Peoples Bank and Trust Co.

· Stephen Shirley, M.D., of New Albany, a board-certified family physician with New Albany Medical Clinic

· Claude H. Springfield, executive vice president with Peoples Bank and Trust Co.

· Travis Staub, retired JESCO mechanical and electrical contractor

· C.K. White, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with Sanders Clinic for Women.

Five board members were recognized for their service. They are Billy Crews, president and CEO of Journal Publishing Co.; James F. Ingram, retired bank president and M&F Bank board member; John W. Smith, retired president and current Peoples Bank and Trust Co. board member; Mike Walker, BellSouth communications manager; and Buddy Williamson, M.D., a board-certified general surgeon with Surgery Clinic of Tupelo, P.A.

NMHS, the nation’s third largest non-metropolitan rural hospital system in the United States, provides a continuum of care to nearly 650,000 residents in north Mississippi, northwest Alabama and portions of Tennessee.

The NMHS corporate umbrella covers a broad range of acute diagnostic and therapeutic services offered through North Mississippi Medical Center, five community hospitals, four nursing homes, and home health and rehabilitation services. In addition, NMHS operates North Mississippi Medical Clinics, which provide area residents with access to quality family practice, internal medicine and other specialists at more than 35 locations.

One of Mitchell’s first responsibilities as chairman of the board will be to appoint chairmen for the board's numerous standing committees and present recommendations to the NMHS Board of Directors for approval.

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