Work on $15 million medical building starts

Southeast Missouri Hospital officials did more than break ground for a new $15 million medical office building Wednesday morning -- they honored an old friend.

At the ceremonial event, hospital administrators announced they were naming the lobby after furniture store owner Charlie Hutson, who died Tuesday but will always be remembered as a tireless advocate who helped guide the hospital through three decades of growth.

"While we mourn Charlie's passing on Tuesday, we also celebrate Charlie's many contributions to Southeast Missouri Hospital and the community," said Narvol Randol, the president of the hospital's board of trustees.

The four-story medical office building and an adjoining 306-car parking garage are expected to be finished by July 2005.

Hutson served for four years as board president and also held all offices on the board after being elected in 1979. While board president, Hutson oversaw Southeast's three-phase, five-year, $30 million expansion programs and construction of the Clinical Services Building, a project that increased the physical size of the hospital by more than 40 percent.

Hutson also came up with and helped implement the idea of the hospital's popular shuttle service, Randol said. It was also during Hutson's presidency that the hospital's school of nursing came to fruition. It has since developed into the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

In 1995, Hutson's work on behalf of Southeast was recognized by the Missouri Hospital Association when he was honored with the Excellence in Governance Award.

"We were fortunate to have a friend like Charlie Hutson, a man who so positively influenced the character and reputation of Southeast Missouri Hospital," Randol said. "Through his steadfast loyalty and service to Southeast, Charlie truly placed service above self."

Hutson's wife, Judi, and two sons, Dave and Chris, were among the honored guests who shoveled the first scoops of earth where the building will stand. Later, the sons asked if they could keep the ceremonial gold shovels, which they were given.

"It's quite an honor," said Hutson's son, Dave. "When a few of them came over and talked to him about it a while back, he was pleased about it. The hospital meant a lot to him. It was a lot of work and he put a lot of time into it, but he enjoyed it."

The building will be a testament to that work, Dave Hutson said.

Hospital administrator Jim Wente said the new medical offices will house about 40 doctors offices, hospital support services including radiology, laboratory, a retail pharmacy and other ambulatory services. The parking garage will be just west of the medical office building, which is being built on the grassy hill in front of the hospital at 1700 block of Broadway.

A pedestrian bridge will connect it with Southeast's Regional Cancer Center. The fourth floor of the parking garage will provide a pedestrian connection to the Lacey Street parking lot.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137