By Betsy Finklea
McLeod Health Dillon celebrated 75 years in the community and 20 years with McLeod at a special event on Sunday, November 4, at 3:00 p.m. at the former entrance of Saint Eugene Hospital on Jackson Street.
Rob Colones, president of McLeod Health, said that McLeod strives to be the choice of medical excellence. Colones offered a prayer of thanksgiving and thanked God for his faithfulness in allowing the hospital to serve the community for 75 years.
John Braddy, chairman of the McLeod Health Board of Trustees, said that McLeod had 8,500 employees in 18 counties serving in South Carolina. He said while he served on the local community advisory board that Saint Eugene joined the McLeod system, the second rural hospital to do so with Darlington being the first. Braddy told some personal stories of his connection to the hospital and said many in the audience could tell stories of the how the hospital had touched them.
Braddy said the community is blessed to have such a state of the art hospital. He said McLeod Dillon is growing and thriving, and McLeod continues to invest here. Some of the capital investments he named over the past 20 years included a three-story medical office, a new emergency room that sees 30,000 patients a year, new technology and equipment, and other improvements. He said that McLeod’s quality and safety commitment to healthcare is priceless.
Shaw Thompson, accompanied by Robin Thompson, performed “There Is A Balm In Gilead.” Dr. Karen Sue Heath of the Sisters of Saint Mary was the next to speak. She was a physician here for nearly 14 years. She detailed the history of Saint Eugene and the journey to becoming McLeod Health.
Joan Ervin, Administrator of McLeod Health Dillon, said it was a great day for a birthday party. She said quality is at the heart of the what they strive to do and that their affiliation with McLeod had helped them keep pace with the health care industry and with state of the art technology.
She said the hospital’ success is because of the community’s support. “Our success is your success,” said Ervin, “and we’re successful because of you.”
After the ceremony, there were tours the hospital ending in the dining room where there were refreshments and a history display in the private dining room that included photographs, articles, and memorabilia.
Contents of the time capsule from the hospital’s 50th anniversary were on display.

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Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald
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