ELLINWOOD — After years of discussion, months of planning and two weeks of preliminary sitework, Friday’s ceremony inaugurating construction of a new Ellinwood District Hospital was short and sweet.

After welcoming a sizeable and appreciative crowd gathered at the construction site off U.S. 56 west of town, at 2 p.m. Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic CEO Kile Magner turned the microphone over to EDH Foundation Director Kristy Rupe to introduce the speakers especially invited for the event.

Following the speeches, Chris Marquart, project executive for construction manager McCownGordon, then gathered principals for the main event — the official turning of the dirt.

While the ceremony took less than an hour, speakers noted that it represents a vision years in development. Several alluded to the final completion date of the project, expected to be just a scant 18 months away.

Speakers included Christy Davis, United States Department of Agriculture Kansas state director; Marquart from McCownGordon; Julie Knop and Mark Frame, HFG Architects; Tracey Mann, Representative for Kansas Big First District; Karen Branaman, Kansas Hospital Association SVP for clinical and strategic initiatives; and Bill Sanford, 1961 Ellinwood High School graduate and health-care entrepreneur. Closing remarks were offered by Joyce Schulte, Ellinwood Hospital District president, and the benediction was given by Fr. Terrance Klein, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ellinwood.

The vision begins

In his welcome, Magner opened with thanking the Ellinwood community for its support. “It’s been a very long process,” he said.

When he came in to interview for the job in Ellinwood, he “had no idea where Ellinwood, Kansas was,” he said. “I have to tell you that when I got here the first thing I saw was carpeted floors and wallpapered walls. I was a little scared.” 

After discussing with his wife every reason not to take the job, he noted that during a drive around town, he really fell in love with the community. 

“It was just a great place to raise kids,” he said. 

Upon his arrival, the task of turning the hospital around began. In successive community assessments, which were required every three years, the community asked for a pharmacy and a new hospital, he said. 

Funding was acquired and Red Haus Pharmacy was opened in 2019 with the assistance of the Kansas Department of Commerce Community Service Tax Credit Program and local support.

“The next step,” he said, was ‘let’s build a hospital.’ We didn’t know how tough a step that would be. Sometimes, it’s best that you don’t know what you’re getting into, because you just do it. So, that’s what we did.”

Magner illustrated the process with the popular adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” he said, noting that the elephant fought back, but progress was made.

Magner praised the local Leadership Committee that helped raise $1.25 million for the campaign; the Ellinwood Hospital Board of Directors; and “anybody who gave time, money or effort deserve as much credit as anybody else.”

Christy Davis, USDA

A $25 million loan from the USDA keyed funding efforts in November 2022.

“We know that the federal programs aren’t always easy to navigate, but here in Kansas we try to make them as easy as we can,” Davis said. “We are just thrilled that we can have an impact in a community like this. 

“We can partner with rural communities to build or improve essential community facilities, such as hospitals, libraries, schools, child care centers, everything that is important to our way of life in rural communities.”

She noted that USDA has funded 37 health-care-related projects in Kansas in the last five years, investing about $240 million in direct-loan funds. 

“Take pride in the investment that you are making into the future of your community. We know that these facilities help to retain population and bring folks to your community for the years to come.”

Chris Marquart, McCownGordon

“I’m going to make this quick, because we have a building to build,” Marquart quipped.

The construction company’s involvement began 2-1/2 years ago, but “there are a lot of people that have been involved much longer than that,” he said.

Marquart noted that the company builds all across the country, but there’s a difference when moving into a town like Ellinwood. “We already feel like we are a part of the community; we’re going to try to leave you with a hospital that you will be proud of.”

Julie Knop and Mark Frame, HFG

Ellinwood native Julie Knop never thought that she would come back to design a new hospital, she said, noting that her hometown influences every project she works on. 

“This new facility will be both beautiful and functional, enhancing the lives of the people of the community for many years to come,” she said.

“I’m hoping that when you walk down the halls of the new hospital you will see Julie,” noted HFG’s Mark Frame, a Great Bend native. “She has put her heart and soul in it; it’s as important to her as HFG is.”

Congressman Tracey Mann

Rep. Mann noted that he wanted to be at the ceremony to share the celebration of “an incredible milestone” with the Ellinwood community. 

“It’s exciting for me to envision the impact that this hospital will have,” he said.

“Today, we are seeing an example of real, meaningful infrastructure that people need in their daily lives.

“Seeing this groundbreaking today inspires me to keep working hard that the Farm Bill continues to support rural development,” he said.

Bill Sanford, health-care entrepreneur

With the help of the Sanford family, the Ellinwood District Hospital Foundation was able to raise an additional $500,000 toward the Foundation’s “Building A Healthy Tomorrow” campaign.

“I have always said, no matter where I am, that my true home is in Ellinwood, Kansas. 

“Most important is the health care that is going to be available on a local basis for years to come,” he said. “There are more advantages than just providing the health care for this project. One is to be able to retain and attract highly-qualified health professionals.

“The hospital currently is one of the largest employers in Ellinwood. There is great economic value created from that employment. This is much more than just a project to build a great new hospital and clinic; it’s something for the future of not only Ellinwood, but Barton County, Kansas and the country.”

Joyce Schulte, EDH board president

The groundbreaking ceremony also happened to fall on Schulte’s 82nd birthday. 

“This is just a groundbreaking, a beginning,” she said. “It takes a community to do something like this. To make this happen, it took every one of us to do it.”

As a historical note, Schulte recounted that the first doctor in Ellinwood in 1871 was F.A. Steckel, who was also a real estate broker. “Every piece of ground that you are standing on today was probably brokered through Dr. Steckel.” According to her research, at least 45 physicians followed, with never less than one full-time physician in the community.

“From then until now, community support has always been evident,” Schulte said. “With your support, we going to launch a new hospital and clinic; without you, it wouldn’t be possible.”

In closing, Rupe noted that when the hospital first opened in 1952, it was operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita. 

In keeping with historic tradition, the benediction was given by Fr. Terrance Klein, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Ellinwood.