ARLINGTON Ray McClure has been a member of the Arlington community since 1929 and served on the Board of Commissioners of Snohomish County Hospital District 3 since 1988, but after nearly 20 years of service with the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics, the board chair signed his resignation, when he met with his fellow commissioners Aug. 16.
When Snohomish County Hospital District 3 decided to increase its number of commissioners from three to five in 1988, board member Bill Roal felt that McClures background as a vice president of sales and marketing for Twin City Foods would be an asset to them, especially since McClure had already served on an advisory committee to the hospital for several years.
As for McClure, he considered himself just about ready to retire, when he decided that it was time to give back to this community, where I raised my three sons. He expressed his enjoyment at having worked at Snohomish County Hospital District 3, which became known as the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics in 2002, for so many years, citing the camaraderie of his fellow commissioners and his admiration of the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics volunteers.
Im proud to have survived the tough times, and of the fact that there still is a Cascade Valley Hospital, said McClure, who also felt very good about being able to invest in the future of Cascade Valley Hospital, with the purchase of the property at Smokey Point and the addition of the new MRI, Sleep Disorders Center and more.
McClure admitted that those earlier tough times of transition and low profits included decisions that affected the lives of our employees, which were stressful because we had to choose to make cuts.
One a more positive note, McClures fellow commissioners reminisced during their Aug. 16 meeting about how hed welcomed each of them onto the board, and eased them into their roles after theyd joined.
Even during my days on the advisory committee, before joining the board, I was always impressed with Rays ability to remain calm and spread that calmness, even when others were getting rattled, commissioner Tina Davis said.
Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics Administrator Clark Jones likewise praised McClure as a great leader, [who] was able to guide the Board to strong business decisions, in addition to maintaining an even temper, even during times of crisis, and devoting a tremendous amount of time to the organization. No matter the need, I could always call him and he would make himself available.
McClure summed up the medical staff and employees of the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics as tremendous, while promising that hell still be seen around the area, since he plans to pitch in when Cascade Valley decides to expand its facilities.