Snowden named Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen
Ray Snowden, CEO and president of Memorial Hospital, was awarded the 23rd annual Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen Award last night at Lincoln Heritage District banquet.
“You have to feel humbled,” Snowden said about the award. “You have to recognize that it really isn’t about me, it’s about the scouts. I love anything to do with the scouts and if there is something I can do to benefit them, I am going to do it.”
Snowden stated he was very surprised when they contacted him about a meeting several months ago. “I actually brought a checkbook,” he said. “To say I was surprised is an understatement.”
Snowden said he actually recommended several other individuals he felt may be a better choice.
Snowden has been President and Chief Executive Officer at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center since 1999; and in 2013, he took on the additional position of Board Chairperson.
Mr. Snowden holds a bachelor’s degree both in education and pharmacy and a master’s degree in health service administration.
After graduating from Indiana University,Snowden joined the Peace Corps and was a math and science teacher in Montserrat in the West Indies for two years. After his service with the Peace Corps, he attended Butler University’s School of Pharmacy.
Upon graduating from Butler, he worked at Hook Drugs and Indiana University/Riley Children’s Hospital prior to joining Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center as a staff pharmacist in 1981. He assumed management duties of the pharmacy in 1983 and shortly thereafter became Director of Ancillary Services and then named Vice President of Ambulatory Services. He served as Executive Vice President for three years prior to being named President and CEO.
Ray currently serves as a Board member for German American Bancorp, Indiana Hospital Association, Genesis Health Alliance, Vincennes University-Jasper Campus Foundation, and southwestern Indiana Community Patient Safety Coalition. He is past president of the Southwestern Indiana Hospital Association district and serves on the Council of Government Relations and Finance Committees. He is a current member of Jasper Lions Club and past Board member for the Patoka Valley Healthcare Cooperative, as well as Dubois Strong (formerly Dubois County Area Development Corporation). He was appointed as a member of the Jasper Economic Development Commission in 2011 and continues to serve in that capacity.
Ray was recently appointed Vice Chair of the Medical Education & Research Partners Board (M.E.R.P.) that is overseeing the development of a multi-institutional health science education and research campus anchored by the Indiana University School of Medicine in Evansville and in partnership with the University of Southern Indiana, the University of Evansville and Ivy Tech Community College and four regional hospitals in a Graduate Medical Education (GME) consortium to ensure an adequate supply of physicians in the region.
District Chairman of the Boy Scouts Tom Fierst commented on the prestigious members of the Distinguished Citizens Award. “This is dedicated to those who really impact the community,” Fierst said. “They live the scout oath.”
Jim O’Neal, WITZ AM/FM News Director contributed to this report
