Hospital President Receives RCC Foundation’s Top Award

March 1, 2017 - The Richmond Community College Foundation has named John Jackson, president of Richmond Memorial Hospital and Sandhills Regional Medical Center, its Citizen of the Year for his community leadership and support.

Jackson serves on the Richmond Community College Foundation Board and Richmond Community College Health Advisory Committee and is member of the Director’s Circle for the DeWitt Performing Arts Series.

“We are excited to honor Mr. Jackson and his service to our community and to our college,” said Dr. Hal Shuler, Associate Vice President of Development. “He has long supported our healthcare programs, specifically our Allied Health programs, and been a true partner for education.”

Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RichmondCC, said Jackson can often be found working behind the scenes getting things done for the many organizations he serves.

“John is a key leader in our community who does many things quietly and behind the scenes that make big differences,” Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RichmondCC, said. “He is a great partner to our college and is deeply committed to improving the quality of life in our region.”

Jackson is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the NCHA Political Action Committee and past member of the NCHA Policy Development Committee. He is currently a member of the Richmond Community Foundation Board, Community Care of North Carolina - Sandhills Board and Rockingham Rotary Club. He was a longtime board member of the United Way of Richmond County, a past chairman of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Rockingham Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Jackson is also a member of the St. James Catholic Church, past chair of the parish council and charter member of the Knights of Columbus, St. James chapter.

“I am very honored to be named citizen of the year by the RCC Foundation. This came as quite a surprise,” Jackson said.

Originally from Pittsburg, Jackson has been associated with Richmond County for more than 30 years when he first started working as a consultant for Richmond Memorial in 1984. While he only visited the hospital a few days a month, the staff made him feel welcome and even gave him a baby shower before his first child was born.

“In 1990, I became the Associate Administrator/Chief Operating Office for Richmond Memorial. I moved to Rockingham at that time. Again everyone opened their arms to me and my family. They made me feel part of the community,” Jackson said. “In 1993, I left the community to further my career. While I was away from the community, I felt like I was away from my family and friends.”

From February 1993 until July 1996, he served as associate administrator and then as interim chief executive officer at Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital. He was president and chief executive officer of Texas Orthopaedic Hospital from July 1996 until May 1998. He joined FirstHealth in May 1998 as vice president of Professional Services.

“I was able to return to the community in 1999 as president of Richmond Memorial Hospital and once again become a resident of Richmond County. In my mind, I was back home. I have always tried to give to the community and be a part of making it a great place. However, not being from here you never know if others view you as a family member or an outsider,” he said. “This recognition makes me truly feel as a family member of Richmond County.”

Under his leadership, Richmond Memorial Hospital supported the L.J. Bell Growing Readers program with 10 volunteers yearly from 2003 – 2014, and the hospital received the Governor’s Award for Volunteerism in 2001 and 2005.

Jackson also coached basketball nine years and was nominated by the Village of Pinehurst for the 2003 National Jr. NBA Coach of the Year.

Jackson received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University in 1984 and a Master of Business Administration from Queens University in 1996.

Jackson and his wife of 32 years, Brenda, have three children, Ben, Andy and Maggie. Brenda is the executive vice president at Sandhills Community College.

Jackson will be honored by the RCC Foundation at the Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May 6, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Cole Auditorium. The Gala is the Foundation’s annual fundraiser for the Working Scholarship program, which provides scholarships to working college students who do not qualify for financial aid. For sponsorship or ticket information, contact Shuler at (910) 410-1807 or email whshuler@richmondcc.edu.