The history of the Kerney Laday, Sr. Award

10/21/2015

The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) will present David Biegler with the Kerney Laday, Sr. Trustee of the Year Award during its 67th Annual Awards Luncheon, October 29 at the Arlington Convention Center.

David Beigler

David Beigler

The chair of Children’s Health System of Texas Board of Directors, Biegler’s association with Children’s Health began in 1987 when he was appointed to the board of the Children’s Medical Center Foundation. In 2000, he was named to the board of Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Under Biegler’s tenure, Children’s Health has expanded to include a second academic medical center, 19 pediatric practice locations and a new research institute. Biegler has also served as chair of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce and the United Way Foundation.

DFWHC created award in 2013 to be presented annually at the luncheon. Named in memory of Kerney Laday, Sr., he served on the Texas Health Resources Board of Trustees for 10 years before passing away in 2012. 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 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. Laday also served as a board member for Parkland Memorial Hospital. The quote engraved upon the award, “Look forward and consider what is best for the future of healthcare,” was attributed to Mr. Laday during a board meeting.

Kerney, Laday, Sr.

Kerney, Laday, Sr.

The inaugural award was presented to Mr. Laday’s family in 2013. Carole Young, a long-time member of HCA’s Medical City Dallas Hospital Board, received the 2014 honor. Tickets are still available to the October 29 DFWHC luncheon. You can register here. For information, contact Chris Wilson at chrisw@dfwhc.org.

The family of Kerney Laday, Sr. is presented the inagural award by Doug Hawthorne at the 2013 Annual Awards Luncheon.

The family of Kerney Laday, Sr. is presented the inaugural award by Doug Hawthorne.