Title
Daniel Otis "D. O." McClusky Jr., 1916-2008
Subject
Druid City Hospital
Description
Daniel Otis McClusky Jr. was born July 23, 1916, in Birmingham, Ala., and died Oct. 12, 2008, at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, at the age of 92. He served for over three decades as administrator of the hospital.
When McClusky interviewed for the position of administrator of what was then known as Druid City Hospital, he told the board of directors that if they wanted the best hospital in the country, he was their man.
A 1937 graduate of Howard College, now Samford University, McClusky served as administrator of Druid City Hospital for 30 years, beginning in 1946. He remained with the hospital for two more years as its director of planning and development.
One of his greatest accomplishments was the relocation of the hospital from the former Northington campus, where University Mall now sits, to a newly constructed facility on University Boulevard, now known as DCH Regional Medical Center. To do this, he helped convince the Alabama Legislature to pass a 1-cent sales tax to fund the hospital.
Additionally, he made DCH the first hospital in the state to include a recovery room, disposable meal service, full-time emergency room physicians, a coronary and intensive care unit, a nursery for premature infants and computerization.
McClusky's vision was noticed by more than the local community. He was made a member of the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the American Hospital Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1976.
He served as president of the Alabama Hospital Association and was recipient of its first Gold Medal of Excellence Award. In 1976, he received the American Hospital Association's top honor, the Distinguished Service Award.
McClusky founded the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame and was a recognized authority in health care administration, publishing many articles in regional and national medical magazines. He served on Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama board of directors for 20 years.
In addition, McClusky served his community in many ways, including president of the Greater Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce.
He served on the West Alabama Planning and Development Council and the Tuscaloosa County Tuberculosis Association among other organizations. He also was the first man to serve as president of the Tuscaloosa High School Parent-Teacher Association in 1957.
At the time of his death, McClusky was the oldest living graduate of Samford University School of Pharmacy.
When McClusky interviewed for the position of administrator of what was then known as Druid City Hospital, he told the board of directors that if they wanted the best hospital in the country, he was their man.
A 1937 graduate of Howard College, now Samford University, McClusky served as administrator of Druid City Hospital for 30 years, beginning in 1946. He remained with the hospital for two more years as its director of planning and development.
One of his greatest accomplishments was the relocation of the hospital from the former Northington campus, where University Mall now sits, to a newly constructed facility on University Boulevard, now known as DCH Regional Medical Center. To do this, he helped convince the Alabama Legislature to pass a 1-cent sales tax to fund the hospital.
Additionally, he made DCH the first hospital in the state to include a recovery room, disposable meal service, full-time emergency room physicians, a coronary and intensive care unit, a nursery for premature infants and computerization.
McClusky's vision was noticed by more than the local community. He was made a member of the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the American Hospital Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1976.
He served as president of the Alabama Hospital Association and was recipient of its first Gold Medal of Excellence Award. In 1976, he received the American Hospital Association's top honor, the Distinguished Service Award.
McClusky founded the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame and was a recognized authority in health care administration, publishing many articles in regional and national medical magazines. He served on Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama board of directors for 20 years.
In addition, McClusky served his community in many ways, including president of the Greater Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce.
He served on the West Alabama Planning and Development Council and the Tuscaloosa County Tuberculosis Association among other organizations. He also was the first man to serve as president of the Tuscaloosa High School Parent-Teacher Association in 1957.
At the time of his death, McClusky was the oldest living graduate of Samford University School of Pharmacy.
Source
DCH Regional Medical Center
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Contributor
Brenda Harris (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
782
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
8 inches x 10 inches