Glynn-Brunswick Hospital Authority Secretary Walter C. McNeely received
one of the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) highest honors,
the Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented to Carl Alexander,
chair, Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority, on McNeely’s
behalf at the association’s annual convention Nov. 14 in Atlanta.
He was recognized for his more than six decades of service to the residents
of Glynn County and Brunswick, Ga.
"Mr. McNeely has spent the majority of his life in service to improve
the lives and circumstances of those who call Glynn County home,"
said Gary R. Colberg, FACHE, president & CEO. "He is loved and
respected across the region for his decades of community service that
have changed the lives of many. We are very pleased he has been awarded the
GHA
Distinguished Service Award and believe he is very deserving of this honor."
For more than 65 years, McNeely dedicated his life to serving the residents
of Glynn County and the coastal region of Georgia. He is widely known
throughout the community for his work in education and his unwavering
support of Southeast Georgia Health System.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, McNeely’s desire
to help others led him to begin a journey toward becoming a physician.
He earned degrees in chemistry and physics and moved to Brunswick in 1949
to teach and save money for medical school. However, not long into his
teaching career, he realized he had found his true passion. He wound up
serving many years in the education system, working his way up the administrative
ladder to where he eventually served as school superintendent for the
county. Upon his retirement in 1991, he was elected to the school board
and served for six years.
For the past 20 years, McNeely has continued to be extremely influential
in his community. In addition to past service on the Georgia Department
of Natural Resources Board and the Coastal Area Development Authority,
he was appointed to serve on the Glynn-Brunswick Hospital Authority in
2007. In this position, he has ensured the welfare of hospital employees
through many leadership positions, including as chair of the quality committee
and human resources committee. He has served as secretary since 2013.
Staying true to his passion for education, in 2012, McNeely established
the Walter C. McNeely Fund for Student Support scholarship through a gift
to the College of Coastal Georgia Foundation. The scholarship assists
students with basic support needs directly related to college education.
McNeely is also one of the founding members of 14 Black Men of Glynn,
a local civic organization that promotes citizenship and education among youth.
"Walter McNeely’s longtime dedication to his community and Southeast
Georgia Health System is truly remarkable," said GHA President Earl
V. Rogers. "He is a most-deserving recipient of this award."
Candidates for this annual award are hospital trustees or community leaders
who have made significant contributions to improving health care in Georgia.