Just who are these handsome gentlemen from the DFW Hospital Council’s 2003 Annual Awards Luncheon? The man on the left is Newt Gingrich, keynote speaker. On the right is William “Bill” Mays, the first executive director to ever lead the original Dallas Hospital Council. As the Council began to grow, the Board of Trustees hired Bill in 1967 as the first paid executive. He would lead the organization until stepping down in 1976. Bill was also a member of the administrative staff of Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas for 28 years, frequently referred to as the “Ambassador” of Presbyterian and a familiar face to hundreds of patients, physicians and employees. At the age of 82 he was still coming to work every day and visited patients on Christmas Day. In 2004, Bill was honored by Presbyterian Healthcare System with the “Bill Mays Service Award,” a newly created service award named in his honor. Bill was a gregarious and enjoyable presence at the Council’s luncheons. He passed away in December of 2004.

Newt Gingrich (left) and William “Bill” Mays