70 for 70: ‘May it always remain open to suffering humanity’

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Friday, December 8, 2023

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70 for 70: ‘May it always remain open to suffering humanity’

STHS Communication Department, CommDept@stph.org

Note: This article is part of 70 for 70, a weekly series of history posts counting down to St. Tammany Health System’s 70th anniversary on Dec. 1, 2024. Today we offer installment No. 18: ‘May it always remain open to suffering humanity

St. Tammany Parish President Fred Mizell's typewritten speech from the dedication of St. Tammany Parish Hospital on Nov. 28, 1954. (STHS archive)

Shortly after 2 p.m. on Nov. 28, 1954, St. Tammany Parish Police Jury President Fred Mizell stepped to the lectern set up in front of the newly completed St. Tammany Parish Hospital. As the December wind blustered, he pulled from his pocket a single sheet of onionskin.

Neatly typed on that piece of paper were 385 words paying tribute to the efforts of those many members of the community who had worked so long to establish a hospital in the parish – and casting a hopeful eye toward the future.

Three days after that speech was delivered at the hospital’s dedication, it would officially open its doors.

In keeping with Mizell’s expressed wishes, those doors have yet to close.

That typed speech still resides in the hospital’s archives. It gets the spotlight in this week’s installment of our ongoing 70 for 70 history series.

Installment No. 18: May it always remain open to suffering humanity

Today’s artifact: A typewritten speech delivered by Parish President Fred Mizell in dedicating St. Tammany Parish Hospital on Nov. 28, 1954.

Why it is significant: Honestly, this is one of those cases where we probably couldn’t say it any better than Mr. Mizell did – especially when it comes to his closing sentence, which is one of our favorites from the health system’s history.

That being the case, we’ll let his words speak for themselves once more. Here is his dedicatory speech, reprinted in full:

Mr. Burus, Dr. Grant, members of the Hospital Board, Members of the Clergy, Distinguished Visitors, Ladies and Gentlemen:

At long last we are about to complete a job that is the culmination of a quarter-century of effort on the part of the citizens of this Parish. A great deal of hard work went into the building of this beautiful, modern hospital, and now we see here the result of all this work. St. Tammany can be proud of its hospital.

Situated as it is among these tall, stately pine trees, our hospital will bring healing to the body and comfort to the spirit of the afflicted.

The medical staff of our hospital comprises all of the doctors practicing in the Parish and I believe a finer body of physicians cannot be found anywhere. Famous specialists from neighboring New Orleans will be available for consultation with the medical staff so as to provide a medical service unexcelled anywhere.

The equipment of the hospital is the latest and finest obtainable and the personnel has been carefully chosen so as to provide the patients with the utmost in hospital care and comfort.

But all this – the fine building, the excellent medical staff, the expert service that will be provided by the hospital personnel – impose an obligation on the people of our Parish. As all of you know, it costs money – much money to operate a hospital such as this one. Nothing will be spared to give the patients the latest care in medical and hospital service. But – such a high level of service costs money and the hospital must pay its way. This is where the obligation of the good people of St. Tammany Parish lies. And the only way they can discharge this obligation is by using the hospital. Instead of taking hospital treatment in other cities, our people and our Doctors should use our own beautiful modern hospital. Only in that way can it flourish and render the great humanitarian service to our Parish that it is intended to render.

And now, Mr. Hebert, as President of the St. Tammany Parish Police Jury, I now hand over to you as Chairman of the Hospital Board, the key to this fine institution. May this key never be used to close it; may it always remain open to suffering humanity.

Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.


Next week Installment No. 19: A generous heart

Last week – Installment No. 17: A touchstone to the past

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