Richard L. "Dick" Sims

A NATIVE OF COLUMBUS AND GROVEPORT, DICK SPENT HIS EARLY YEARS IN PORT CLINTON GRADUATING FROM P.C.H.S. BEFORE ENTERING OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. WHILE THERE HE WAS ACTIVE IN STUDENT AFFAIRS: SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY; OHIO STATERS INC.; BUCKET & DIPPER AND SPHINX HONORARIES. AFTER RECEIVING HIS BS DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN 1957, HE JOINED THE PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM OF WILLIAM S. KONOLD & ASSOCIATES WHERE HE WAS ACTIVE IN TRADE ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT. HE SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS (1953-56), DURING THE KOREAN WAR, STAYING ACTIVE IN THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD WHERE HE RETIRED AS A MAJOR FOLLOWING 22 YEARS OF SERVICE.

DICK SERVED THE OSTEOPATHIC PROFESSION IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES INCLUDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OHIO OSTEOPATHIC ASSN. FROM

1969-74 AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE OHIO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IN 1974 AND SERVED ON OUCOM'S FIRST ADVISORY BOARD.

HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES IN 1973.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD HE ALSO WORKED FOR DOCTORS HOSPITAL IN VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS BECOMING PRESIDENT-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

FROM 1977-88. HE WAS THEN NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE DOCTORS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, RETIRING IN 1995 AFTER 39 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE HOSPITAL. WHILE AT DOCTORS, THE HOSPITAL GREW FROM 150 BEDS AT ONE LOCATION TO 600 BEDS IN A THREE HOSPITAL NON-PROFIT SYSTEM. IN 1963, HE HELPED IMPLEMENT DOCTORS WEST SATELLITE HOSPITAL, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY, AND IN 1980 ACQUIRED MOUNT ST. MARY HOSPITAL WHICH BECAME DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF NELSONVILLE. HE SERVED AS THEIR BOARD CHAIR FOR 5 YEARS.

DICK BELIEVED IN PAYING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OTHERS. HE WAS TWICE NAMED ONE OF THE TOP TEN YOUNG MEN OF THE YEAR BY COLUMBUS JAYCEES. HE WAS PRESIDENT OR BOARD CHAIRMAN OF NUMEROUS LOCAL CHARITIES INCLUDING: EASTER SEAL SOCIETY FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS - THE GREATER COLUMBUS CHAPTER; AMERICAN RED CROSS; ROTARY CLUB OF COLUMBUS; EMPLOYMENT FOR SENIORS AND WAS A PAST COMMANDER OF UPPER ARLINGTON POST 443 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION.

IN HIS PROFESSION, HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN-FRANKLIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COUNCIL; CHAIRMAN OF THE OHIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION; CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND IT'S FOUNDATION AND CHAIRMAN-SCIOTO VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEMS AGENCY.

HE WAS AN ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBER OF THE OSU PROGRAM IN HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND LIFE FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVES. IN 2003, THE NATIONAL SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY NAMED HIM A "SIGNIFICANT SIG" FOR HIS SERVICE TO HIS PROFESSION AND THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVING AS GOVERNING BOARD CHAIRMAN AND CHAIR OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

ABOVE ALL, HE WAS DEVOTED TO FAMILY: HUSBAND TO MARILYN A. SIMS

FOR 54 YEARS PRIOR TO HER DEATH IN 2005; FATHER TO JOHN C. SIMS (CHARLIN) AND STEVEN P. SIMS (CHERYL); GRANDFATHER TO JOEL, KATHERINE, KRISTIAN AND

NICHOLAS SIMS; GREAT-GRANDFATHER TO AIDAN AND AVERY SIMS, ALL OF COLUMBUS, PLUS MANY NIECES AND NEPHEWS. IN 2006, DICK MARRIED NORMA SHILLIDAY WHO SURVIVES. DICK AND NORMA ALONG WITH NORMA’S FAMILY, JAY (MELISSA), STACIA (JEFF), CINDY (DAVE) AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ENJOYED THEIR JOINT FAMILY FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. ALSO SURVIVING IS DICK’S BROTHER, DR. JAMES D. (MARGE) SIMS OF NAPLES, FL.

THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS ON TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014 FROM 4 TO 8 PM AT THE SCHOEDINGER-NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 ZOLLINGER RD., COLUMBUS, OH 43221. A SERVICE OF MEMORY WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH AT 4:30 PM AT FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH, 1320 CAMBRIDGE BLVD, COLUMBUS, OH 43212. A CELEBRATION OF DICK’S LIFE WILL BE HELD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE AT FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH AT THE BRYCE ECK ACTIVITY CENTER, 3880 REED RD., COLUMBUS, OH 43220.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, THOSE WISHING TO MAKE A GIFT IN DICK'S MEMORY

MAY CONSIDER THE FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH FOUNDATION, 1320 CAMBRIDGE

BLVD. COLUMBUS, OH 43212; COLUMBUS FOUNDATION (SIMS FAMILY FUND) OR THE CHARITY OF THE DONOR’S CHOICE.

VISIT www.schoedinger.com TO SHARE A FAVORITE MEMORY OF DICK SIMS.

ARRANGEMENTS BY THE SCHOEDINGER-NORTHWEST CHAPEL.