LSUA Allied Health Center Building Dedicated to A.C. Buchanan, III

I am so proud!

The Article in The TownTalk newspaper:

A bronze plaque was placed at the LSU-A Allied Health Center building, 807 Jackson Street, today dedicating the building to A.C. Buchanan, III. Buchanan died August 5, 2008 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston from complications due to leukemia.  Buchanan was involved in creating many of the Allied Health programs before his death.
Buchanan was the Rapides Healthcare System's president and chief executive officer when he lost his battle with cancer. Buchanan had been president and chief executive officer at Rapides Regional since March 1999.  In 2002, he was named president and chief executive officer for the Rapides Healthcare System, which is composed of RRMC, Alexandria; Avoyelles Hospital, Marksville; Oakdale Community Hospital, Oakdale; Savoy Medical Center, Mamou; and Winn Parish Medical Center, Winnfield.
Buchanan moved to Alexandria from Arlington, Texas, in 1999, where he was executive director/administrator of Vencor Hospitals, Tarrant County, a 260-bed facility.
Shortly after accepting the helm of RRMC, Buchanan told The TownTalk that the Central Louisiana community helped sell him on the job. "I love the community, and the hospital is exciting," Buchanan said. "I've heard of Rapides Regional for a number of years, even over in Texas, so it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up." While in Cenla, Buchanan did much to further the Rapides Healthcare System hospitals' standing and became an intricate, involved part of his adopted community.

The plaque on the A.C. Buchanan, III LSU-A Allied Health Center building reads: "In memory of our visionary friend who understood the importance of healthcare and healthcare education. Though greatly missed, his vision lives on."

The plaque unveiled at the LSUA Allied Health Center building dedicating it to A.C. Buchanan stands next to a picture of the former C.E.O. of Rapides Regional Medical Center.

Lisa Buchanan (left) and LSUA Chair of the Department of Allied Health Haywood Joiner along with LSUA Chancellor Dave Manuel applaud after unveiling the plaque dedicating the LSUA Allied Health building to A.C. Buchanan on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. Buchanan was involved in creating many of the Allied Health programs before his death last year.

Lisa Buchanan smiles as Dr. Tom Armstrong talks about working with her husband A.C. Buchanan who died last year. The LSUA Allied Health building was dedicated to him on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

There were several speakers, men that were the chairs of the different boards, Cheryl the COO at RRMC and yours truly. I wasn't nervous, but was very excited that a building was being dedicated to my husband, what an honor! It is a wonderful feeling to know that others in the community thought enough of him to dedicate a building to him. Thank you to everyone involved!