HR1474 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1474 LRB094 21775 KXB 60190 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Rural Health Association recently recognized an Olney Doctor with its "Rural Physician of Excellence Award"; Dr. Don F. Hatten was one of 14 physicians in the State of Illinois to receive this award on Tuesday, October 10, in Springfield; Recipients were selected for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide health care to rural and underserved residents throughout the State, as well as for their community and humanitarian endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hatten, as a senior member of the Weber Medical Clinic, has the distinct honor of delivering the most babies of any of the past or present OB/GYN members of the practice; he joined the group in 1963 and has served in many leadership roles within the partnership as well as various positions within the medical staff structure at Richland Memorial Hospital in his 40 plus year tenure, including multiple terms as Chief of Staff and Chief of Obstetrics; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hatten has been recognized by the Illinois State Medical Society as a member of their 50 Year Club in honor of his 50 plus years as a medical practitioner; and

WHEREAS, As an OB/GYN, Dr. Hatten has brought over 8,000 new lives into the world; he is responsible for the introduction of many new medical techniques, including tubal ligation reversal at the time of its development; Dr. Hatten has enjoyed the respect of his patients, professional colleagues and the nursing staff within the obstetrics/gynecological unit; He considers the nursing staff his extended family and is known for going out of his way to provide additional education and training to new members of the staff; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hatten has accepted the position of Honorary Chair for the Renewing for Health fund drive in support of the Women's Health Center & Front Entrance project at Richland Memorial Hospital; A new, state-of-the-art OB/GYN unit is a key component of the $5.8 million project; and

WHEREAS, His community and civic activities have included service as a publicly-elected member of the Richland County Board; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Dr. Hatten was involved in the creation of East Fork Lake in Olney; at the time, he had been elected as a member of the Olney City Council, and had campaigned on a platform supporting the need for and benefits to be received from the construction of a 960-acre lake; other recent recognitions have included selection as the Man of the Year in 2003; during the ceremony for the Rural Physicians of Excellence Award, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, who is chairman of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, officially proclaimed October 10th as "Doc Hollywood Day" in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hatten is be commended for his hard work, his dedication to the people of the area, and for receiving this award; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Don Hatten of Olney on receiving the Rural Physician of Excellence Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Don F. Hatten.