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WRMC 25th Love Light Tree honors Bond
by Frances Hayes
(Photo caption) Frances Hayes/staff photo-LOVE LIGHT TREE is in honor of Dr. John Bond. Right is Lois Bentley, Auxiliary president. Far left is Betty Shelton. This is the 25th annual Christmas Love Light Tree, sponsored by Wilkes Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.
The 25th annual Christmas Love Light Tree was dedicated to Dr. John Bond of North Wilkesboro, longtime surgeon, during a ceremony at Wilkes Regional Medical Center (WRMC) beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Bond and his family came to Wilkes in 1960 when WRMC was still Wilkes General. Since then he has been instrumental in many changes at the hospital, as well as being active in the community, including First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, the Airport Board and First Citizen's Board. Bond was also the medical director of Holly Farms and remains in that position with Tyson.
A large crowd attended the ceremony, moved indoors because of the rain. The crowd included Bond's wife, Fran, children and grandchildren, as well as many longtime friends. Also attending the ceremony were past Love Light Tree honorees who were recognized during the ceremony, the 25th year anniversary of the event.
The Love Light Tree is a fund raising project, sponsored by WRMC Auxiliary. Thousands of dollars are raised each year through the project, all donated to projects, scholarships or equipment needed at WRMC. Lights on the tree can be purchased in honor or in memory of loved ones.
The lights on the Love Light Tree, located on top of WRMC, came on when Bond gave the word during the ceremony. The identity of the Love Light Tree dedication recipient is kept a secret until the tree lighting ceremony.
Each year Auxiliary members dedicate the Love Light Tree to a person who has contributed to WRMC. Lois Bentley, Auxiliary president, presented this year's honoree.
"Our honoree tonight was born in Jackson, Tenn. and attended school there until his parents moved to Oak Ridge, Tenn. There his father was employed as a mechanic during World War II in the plant where the atomic bomb was being built. When the war ended his family moved back to Jackson and he was able to graduate with his class," said Mrs. Bentley.
"His medical training began at Lambuth College in his home town of Jackson. Before his 21st birthday he was admitted to the University of Tennessee Medical College in Memphis. He was allowed to graduate from medical school and complete his internship at Baptist Hospital in Memphis before being eligible to be drafted during the Korean War. With the foresight that he would be called into service, he joined the Tennessee National Guard while still in medical school.
"Before being called into active duty he was able to complete a one-year general surgery residency at Columbia Hospital in Columbia, S.C. in 1965," said Mrs. Bentley.
"The summer before entering medical school, this young man worked for Southwestern Publishing Company in Nashville. The company sent him to Conway, S.C. to sell Bibles and reference books," said Mrs. Bentley.
That summer he met his future wife and in 1953 Fran and John Bond were married. After one year of residency the Army called him into service and allowed him to continue his four-year residency in general surgery beginning in El Paso, Texas. Three years at William Beaumont Hospital at Fort Bliss and two years at Womack Hospital at Fort Bragg, fulfilled his military obligation.
The Bonds, with their three children, Beth, Laura and Johnny, moved to Wilkes County in 1960.
"Soon after he arrived a recovery room for post-surgery patients became a reality. Previously these patients were sent directly to a regular room. The emergency room was moved and renovated to become an up-to-date ER. At first it was maintained by well-qualified surgery residents from Baptist Hospital and now is staffed by specially trained emergency care physicians. Soon after those changes in the emergency room, the intensive/coronary care units were added," said Mrs. Bentley.
"With no plans to retire, he maintains his office hours the same as always and is enjoying having the time to get re-acquainted with many long-time patients. His legacy to the citizens of Wilkes and surrounding counties is his outstanding medical service and his dedication to the mission of WRMC," said Mrs. Bentley.
Bond remembered past times and people at Wilkes General before giving the signal to turn on the tree. He pointed out there has been "real progress made at the hospital and he was proud to join the group of Love Light Tree honorees. He gave credit to his wife for his long career and said he has enjoyed every minute.
"It's been a great ride," said Bond.
Other comments
Gene Faile, president/CEO of WRMC, spoke to the crowd, thanking the Auxiliary for their work. "You are the heart and pulse of this hospital." He also thanked the 700 employees of WRMC and the Health Foundation Board.
Betty Shelton, Love Light Tree chairperson, thanked many people for their help with the project, including Paul Barlow and the maintenance crew who maintain the tree and Nancy Canter and the WRMC dietician staff who prepared food for the reception following the ceremony.
Music was provided by the First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, led by Larissa Leaply. Dr. Nelson Granade, minister at First Baptist, gave the invocation and the closing prayer was given by the Rev. Paul Hugger, chaplin at WRMC.
Past Love Light honorees
Bobby Province, Auxiliary secretary and co-chairman of the Love Light Tree, recognized past recipients and presented plaques to those attending or their representatives.
Recipients are John Wesley Bryan Jr., Norma Stevenson Hubbard, Dr. William Lumsden Bundy, Ruth Long Graham RN, Hugh Durant Stetler, DeLoris H. Porter, Alvin A. Sturdivant Jr., Fred J. Schilling III, Russell G. Pearson, Louis M. Kinney and Annette Kinney, Maintenance Department, Dietary Department, Stephen Lee Critz Jr., the David Henson Family, Dr. Jack A. Dawson, Dr. T.R. Bryan Jr., Mark Cullison, Sieglinde Duncan RN, Dr. Duane H. Smith, Barbara Willens, Betty Shelton, Debbie Ferguson, Heather Murphy and Paul Hugger.
Love Light Tree
The Love Light Tree project continues until January 2010. Each light on the body of the tree is $5 and $10 for a couple. Star points are $100 each and those lights within the star are $25 each.
Names are placed in a Book of Honor that will be on display in the lobby of WRMC during December.
All contributions are tax-deductible. For more information call 651-8162. |
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