HUTSON HONORED BY MHA

Charles L. Hutson of Cape Girardeau was one of five hospital trustees from around the state honored recently for distinguished service to their local hospitals and communities by the Missouri Hospital Association.

The MHA annually honors hospital and health system trustees whose service has demonstrated a true understanding of the health care industry and whose dedication exceeds expectations.

Hutson has served on the Board of Trustees at Southeast Missouri State Hospital for 17 years and is the immediate past president of the board. He has also held several other offices and served on numerous committees. He is especially devoted to patient care, public relations, community service, finance and planning issues, and helped guide the hospital's strategic planning sessions, total quality management programs and joint commission surveys. Hutson also led the planning and financing of the hospital's largest building program and co-chaired the fund drive that raised more than $1.5 million for that project.

"There is no finer steward of Southeast's resources and assets or more devoted trustee than Charles Hutson," said James Wente, administrator at Southeast. "All with whom he associates find him a man of his word ad as a trustee, he is worthy of statewide commendation. To receive the MHA Excellence in Governance Award is an honor he richly deserves."

Hutson is president of Hutson Enterprises, Inc., in Cape Girardeau, which includes Girardeau Distributors, Hutson Rental Properties, Lazy Boy Show-case Shop, Furniture Fair and Hutson's Furniture Co. He also serves the community through his involvement with numerous business, civic and volunteer organizations.

The awards were presented during MHA's annual Administrative/Trustee Forum in Osage Beach.