IRVING, TX – The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) announced today the creation of a new trustee award to be presented for the first time at the Annual Awards Luncheon, October 24 at Arlington Convention Center. The award will be named in memory of Kerney Laday, Sr., who served on the Texas Health Resources Board of Trustees for 10 years. He was chair of the board when he passed away in September, 2012. The inaugural award will be funded by Texas Health Resources.

“Kerney Laday was a mentor for many people and a dear friend to me,” said Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “His leadership and commitment to improving the health of our patients and people in the communities we serve led to many of the advancements that have made Texas Health Resources what it is today. We are privileged to help inaugurate this award in Kerney’s name. He will long be remembered.”

The first in his family to earn a college degree, Laday had a 26-year career with Xerox Corp. He was the company’s vice president and regional general manager when he retired in 1997. Since 1986, Laday held many leadership positions in North Texas including being the first African-American to serve on the board of directors for Texas Utilities, Inc. Laday also served as a board member for Parkland Memorial Hospital.

“The DFWHC Board of Trustees will select annually an active member from a North Texas hospital board for this award,” said W. Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “Kerney Laday exhibited exceptional quality and compassion during his service. He inspired many during his lifetime and this is an opportunity to honor not only his dedication, but the service of all North Texas hospital board members.”

The first Kerney Laday, Sr. Trustee Award will be presented to his family in his memory during the October 24 event. Doris Kearns Goodwin will serve as keynote speaker while former Texas Senator Florence Shapiro will receive the Distinguished Health Service Award. Jessica Rangel O’Neal, VP of operations at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, will receive the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year Award.

The luncheon is sponsored in part by Wilson Elser, LLP, GroupOne Services, CampbellWilson, LLP, Konica Minolta and The Dallas Business Journal.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council is an 85-member organization with 44 years of service to North Texas healthcare. Governed by a 14-member board, the hospital trade association is committed to the continuous improvement of patient care.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2013

Contact:
Chris Wilson
Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council
Office: 972.719.4900
chrisw@dfwhc.org