Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Jim O'Brien accepts the "Spirit of Healthcare" award from Kerry Ferguson, representative of the Kimball Hospital Foundation. Jim served on the Kimball Hospital Foundation Board for 18 years and recently retired from the board.
Long-time resident Jim O'Brien celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday at the Eagles. He was caught off guard by a presentation to him from the Kimball Hospital Foundation.
Jim served 18 years on the Foundation Board. The award read: "Your input as a long-time citizen, business owner and especially your many years of service on the Kimball County Ambulance Service have been especially valuable and gave a unique perspective on helping us fulfill our mission to serve the community."
Jim received the "Spirit of Healthcare" award, which from this time forward will be called "The Jim O'Brien Spirit of Healthcare" award.
Jim O'Brien and Larry Sterling began operating the ambulance service in 1970. Gill Allen had been the previous operator.
Larry worked with Jim for five years but then he was transferred out of town. Jim continued to run the ambulance for a total of 41 years. Jim's wife Pat kept the books and dealt with the billing.
Pat said: "In 1970 there was no insurance, medicare, or medicaid to deal with, you just billed the patient and they worked with their insurance company."
