PERSONNEL: EDYTHE DAVIS HONORED BY FRIENDS OF ST. FRANCIS

Jill Smirl has been elected president of the Friends of St. Francis. Other officers for the next two years included Jim Govro, vice president; Rick Essner, secretary; Janet Esicar, treasurer; and historians Ruth Colyer and Mary Greaser. Rick Fehr is retiring president.

The Friends celebrated their 25th anniversary recently. Edythe Davis was this year's recipient of the Friends Honorary Award.

Davis, who was vice president of the medical center relations 22 years, started the Friends in 1975 to assist St. Francis Medical Center in fund raising and "friend raising."

She received a proclamation and a Japanese maple tree from Tom Howard, a charter member of the Friends, and Bill Kiel, executive director of the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation.

Also honored at the group's meeting recent, held at Bent Creek in Jackson, Mo., were Mike Litz, Dan Brase, Jim Govro and Tom Howard. Litz and Brase were recognized for held the junior golf tourney to success, and Govro and Howard were honored for their roles in the 13th annul Friends of St. Francis Benefit Golf Tournament.

The Friends have raised about $500,000 through the golf tournaments during the past 13 years. The Friends have contributed more than a million dollars o St. Francis Medical Center over the past 25 years.