wednesDAY Lifestyles july 11, 2018 McMinnville, Tennessee 4B

Dr. Bethel David Dr. John T. Dr. Charles Campbell Foster Mason Meadows Smoot Ray Clark

Currently serving as an office building, the Medical Clinic served the community for over 40 years as a hospital. A building full of memories by MARGARET HOBBS doubling the size of the facility. cost of a physician visit, he would Lifestyles Editor for the Southern Standard With the passing of Dr. Clark, never send a bill. He seemed like (McMinnville, Tennessee) the property was deeded from a rough and tough person, but Smoot and the heir of Cark to was really a generous and kind Dr. Charles Meadows Clark, S.R. Moore and J.W. Gentry, thus man. Dr. John T. Mason, Dr. Bethel ending The Medical Clinic and Dr. Smoot loved to fish, fishing Campbell Smoot and David Hospital’s service to the area. from Cuba to the Arctic Ocean. Foster Ray are familiar names to The date of the deed was June 30, He was honored with a Dr. many Warren County residents, 1978. After changing hands Smoot Day in August 1967, and especially if you have memories again, it was purchased by First by the VFW as Citizen of the of the Medical Clinic. The clinic Presbyterian Church in 1999. Year. Gov. Buford Ellington was unique in many respects, as joined residents in paying tribute it received no financial aid from Dr. Charles Meadows to Smoot by appointing him a the city, county, state or federal (Pete) Clark colonel on his staff and presented government. It served the com- The dedicated healer worked him with a certificate. munity as the only hospital for his way through medical school, He passed in 2000 at the age of more than 40 years. graduating in 1928 from the 86 at River Park Hospital, the Descendants of three of the University of Tennessee, starting facility he co-founded in 1972. owners recently had the oppor- his practice in McMinnville that Katie Kemesis is Dr. Smoot’s tunity to meet each other and same year. granddaughter, saying, “My share stories and memories of According to his daughter, grandfather treated countless their family members. Anne Clark Foster, “He paid people in this clinic, and I know Anne Clark Foster, daughter house calls, with no destination he would be proud of the work of Dr. Clark, resides in New too remote, no road too rough or done to give this building a new Hampshire after spending years dusty or muddy, no night too lease on life. I’m humbled by the in Italy. She has not been able to cold. I sometimes accompanied exhibit and memory walk honor- visit McMinnville often, but has him, little realizing the service he ing the nurses and doctors.” kept in touch with longtime was rendering would soon be a friend Rachel Killebrew. The thing of the past.” David Foster Ray building was purchased by First She also recalls him never Ray was born in Alabama, but Presbyterian Church in 1999 and refusing a charity case or refus- came to McMinnville in 1939 to has been restored, and renamed ing admittance to the clinic. He work with Clark and Smoot at “The Clinic Office Building, A never sent a statement or account the Medical Clinic. He dedicated place of Hope, Health and to a patient, unless requested by much of his life to the medical Healing.” the individual. field, working in the lab, X-ray Touring the renovated Medical Clinic are descendants of some “How proud and pleased my He was called a born leader department and administration. of the doctors, from left, Elizabeth Rone, daughter of Dr. John father would be to see the and donated much time to civic He was the father of Warren Mason; Anne Clark Foster, daughter of Dr. Charles Clark; and Medical Clinic and Hospital and community services. He County’s Medal of Honor win- Katie Kemesis, granddaughter of Dr. B.C. Smoot. reborn as The Clinic Office made outstanding contributions ner, David R. (Bobby) Ray, who Building,” said Foster. “This to the field of education and to was killed in Vietnam in 1969 extraordinary work of preserva- the business and industrial life of while saving the life of a fellow tion, carried out under the direc- McMinnville and Warren Marine. tion of the church, has been a County. He died at the age of 80 in June monumental task. The preserva- He died in 1964 at the age of of 1998. tion was carried out so sensitive- 62. Ray’s daughter Mary Don ly that the presence of the Bixby said this about her father beloved doctors and nurses can Dr. John T. Mason and his legacy, “Since moving almost be felt. This beautiful He earned his medical license back to McMinnville, I frequent- building has not been severed after attending Vanderbilt ly hear from so many people from its past but remains a place University from 1926-33. In 1939, who knew and loved my father. of healing, hope and health.” he sold his interest in the hospital He might have X-rayed them, The medical facility was the to Clark, and established an given them a shot, or helped brainchild of Clark, who pur- office on Morford Street in 1940. them pay their hospital bills, but chased land on West Main Street He later became affiliated with they all seemed to remember in 1936 for $3,000. Three months the Tennessee State Health him. He loved his work, and I later he transferred half interest Department before returning to know that it was because he to John Mason for $1,500. McMinnville to practice medi- cared so much about the Construction started in cine once again. patients.” September 1937 by the owners, He was one of the first elders With the purpose of preserv- with them moving in their new at Westwood Church of Christ in ing the history and integrity of clinic on Dec. 31, 1937. 1954, and helped organize and the building, church committee The original Art Deco struc- establish WBMC Radio Station. members have a memory walk- ture was one story with a base- He passed away May 1, 1999 at way in an effort to keep the ment. The building featured a the age of 90. important McMinnville alive. large reception room, three suites Dr. Mason’s daughter The Memorial Walkway runs of offices, an X-ray room, dark Elizabeth Rone and her husband from the front door of the Clinic room, laboratory, large hall, a Dr. Norman Rone have located at 205 West Main Street. Memory recovery room and four bath- his optometric practice in the bricks for the doctors and nurses rooms. office building. are arranged in a cross to honor The cream-faced brick struc- She said, “I have always been them, with the bricks of the peo- ture was desperately needed in proud that my father, Dr. John T. ple they served are surrounded the community, with additions Mason, was a co-partner with Dr. around them. Bricks currently immediately planned and com- Clark in building the original number 180, with additions in pleted in 1938, adding a second Medical Clinic. My husband and the future. floor to the building. I are pleased to have played a Anyone wishing to place a In 1939, Mason and wife part in the renovation of this his- brick in honor or memory of Elizabeth Mason sold their half toric building as members of the someone, contact the church to Clark, making him the sole First Presbyterian Church.” office in the Clinic Building owner. Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. In July 1939 David Foster Ray Dr. Bethel – 1 p.m., or call 931 473-2690 to joined the staff of the Medical Campbell Smoot get a brochure. Other contacts Clinic as the laboratory and He practiced medicine from include Mary Mason at 931-474- X-ray technician, and later hospi- 1937 until his retirement in 1976. 3100, email mwmason.tn@ tal administrator. He was known as a community gmail.com; or contact Rachel Smoot started working at the doctor, often making house calls. Killebrew at 931-473-8616, email hospital in 1941, and became a It is estimated he delivered 6,000 [email protected]. For David Ray’s daughter Mary Don Ray Bixby admires a photo of partial owner in 1946. Another babies during his career. If he felt office space rental, make these her father that hangs on a historical wall inside The Clinic Office addition was added in 1942, his patients could not afford the same contacts. Building, which was the former Medical Clinic.