It appears that we have another tempest in a teapot brewing in the Valley. This time it is the Valley Memorial Hospital expansion that is the object of discussion. I would like to set the record straight as to the evolution of the Hospital and it's service area.

One Sunday morning, I met with Chester Stanley, our County Supervisor to try to persuade him to vote against the formation of a tax district. He was reticent to do so outright but suggested to me that we get 50% plus of the assessed valuation of owners of property in the proposed district to ask for exclusion and denial. An impossible task, I thought, however, it was the only method available to accomplish our goal. For all intents and purposes, and with a little more maneuvering, we succeeded in stopping the formation of a district.

One year later, Gordon Cumming, Chief of the Bureau of Hospitals contacted Hollis Bascom, a member of the 20-30 Club, urging him to contact members of the two communities regarding a community hospital. It seemed that the Hill-Burton Act had funds that were available for hospital construction. California wanted to participate in the allocation of funds due to the anticipated growth, particularly in the Bay Area. Our area apparently occupied a high priority position in the allocation of these funds.

The first meeting of Valley wide citizens was held on April 11, 1958, in the Pleasanton City Hall to discuss possible approaches to a hospital construction program. As a result of this meeting "The Hospital Committee for the Livermore-Pleasanton Areas, Inc." was formed, with a membership of 45 members form Livermore, Pleasanton, Sunol and Dublin. Hollis Bascom was elected as temporary chairman and I was elected as secretary. August Koenig was subsequently retained as our Hospital Consultant. Articles of Incorporation were filed with the State in May, 1958, stating the name of the corporation, "The Hospital Committee for the Livermore-Pleasanton Areas".

In late May of 1958 the Committee filed an application with the Bureau of Hospitals for a grant-in-aid for federal funds and an equal amount in state funds totaling $587,288.

All committees were made up of representatives from the various areas.

In June, 1958, permanent officers were elected. Hollis Bascom, President, Karl Wente, Vice-President, and I was elected Secretary-Treasurer. During the next several meetings things moved rapidly. The name of the Hospital would be "Valley Memorial Hospital". We received the amount of the Hill-Burton funds as applied for. Hugh Voight, professional fund raiser, was retained. Stone, Mulloy, Marraccini & Patterson, was retained as the architectural firm and the charge to the architects was for an expandable plan to take care of the present as well as future needs of the Valley.

Ralph Merritt was named chairman of the campaign committee. A goal of $525,000 was set with a deadline of December 15, 1958, and we met that goal with $758,681, either collected or pledged. The agricultural communities, businesses, doctors and professional individuals were the largest contributors along with various corporations. All donation were tax deductible.

The real credit for securing the Hill-Burton funds goes to Gordon Cumming who presented our request for funds by describing our Valley as being totally isolated and surrounded by very high hills, thus making it difficult for us to reach other facilities.

The site committee was appointed in August 1958. The committee was comprised of members from the two communities. It was decided that the ideal location for the hospital would be somewhere in the Pleasanton area which represented the geographical center of population according to all studies. However, due to the inadequacy at the time of available utilities and the unsuitability of placing the hospital on a few acres of a ranch, the City of Livermore was chosen as the site through a gift of that land from Kaiser Industries.

In February, 1959, Hollis Bascom, William Gale, Jr., Arnold Abrott, Joseph Callaghan, G.E. Dailey, Karl Wente, Lee Hollingsworth, Stirling Colgate and myself were elected as directors. Officers elected were Hollis Bascom, President; Lee Hollingsworth, Vice-President; and myself, Secretary-Treasurer.

On March 2, 1959, the board approved the formation of the Valley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. This auxiliary, again was represented by many hard working ladies from the entire hospital area. This organization has made a tremendous contribution to the various voluntary hospital services as well as raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.

At the annual meeting in February, 1960, the same directors were elected with the exception of Joseph Callaghan who chose not to run, and was replaced by Robert Becker. The same officers remained with the exception of the Secretary-Treasurer position which was divided and G.E. Dailey assumed that office.

In January, 1960, bids were opened, and to the boards disappointment, the bids exceeded the architect's estimate. At the board meeting, after discussing all the alternatives, the directors agreed to continue with our present plan. We would rearrange a bank loan and hold a supplemental fund raiser, with the goal set at $225,000. The original Campaign committee was regrouped and a campaign kick-off meeting was held on April 26th. This campaign also encompassed the two townships.

Ground breaking ceremonies were held on March 16, 1960, signaling the start of construction of Valley Memorial Hospital. Dedication of the hospital was held on September 23, 1961.

Many studies regarding growth trends and economics were made on a continuing basis. Budget reports took into consideration the future growth of the Valley.

In 1966, the fund raising campaign for an expansion to 112 beds was launched, with C.R. Barncord of Pleasanton as the campaign General Chairman. The committees were set up in the same manner as the previous fund raisers covering the entire Livermore and Pleasanton Townships, which included Livermore, Pleasanton, Sunol and Dublin-San Ramon Village. The pledge cards reflect this area-wide interest. Total expansion cost was to be $4,411,562 with $1,411,562 in Federal-State grants and $800,000 to be raised within the area mentioned. The response for funds came, as with the previous campaigns, from the entire area.

In its plans and programs, the hospital has always considered its entire service area. In 1974 the hospital opened the Family Medical Center in San Ramon to bring physicians and medical services to the west end of the Valley. Even then, 10 years ago, the growth potential of the west Valley was apparent.

In the early 1970's the Hospital's Board of Directors made a complete re-evaluation and update of its Master Plan, after reviewing a site evaluation, update on a demographer's report and survey of physicians. They then appointed a committee of citizens representing the various areas and several members from the board to make a study of the future needs of the area. An independent firm, was retained as consultants and, as a result, a ten year plan was adopted. In 1974, a 22 acre site was purchased in Pleasanton where a new hospital would be built when the population warranted it.

In 1978, the need for a new hospital was again evaluated. Though the project was not initiated at that time, it still was a part of the future plan.

Finally in 1983, the Board of Directors agreed that the time was right to approach the State with its request to build a hospital in Pleasanton. The Board's unanimous decision to go ahead with the project and file the Certificate of Need in May 1983 was based on months and years of considering all the alternatives and ramifications.

In the Fall of 1983, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development told VMH it could add some beds to the present facility or build a new hospital in Pleasanton, but both could not remain. Then on February 2, 1984, the Hospital and State reached a negotiated settlement which allowed VMH to expand some services in Livermore and build a new hospital in Pleasanton. The plan includes 70 beds at the Livermore hospital and 94 beds at the Pleasanton hospital.

The foregoing information was taken from the Hospital Board minutes and not off the top of my head. l hope this will clear the air about the misconception that Valley Memorial Hospital was paid for by the City of Livermore and is, therefore, their exclusive property.

To those who don't believe it was a Valley project, I would suggest a walk through the Hospital corridors to see the number of plaques with the names of Pleasanton individuals on the doors to the various rooms. This is indicative of a substantial contribution.

How about the $1,998,850 in federal and state grants? That came out of the pockets of people who reside in all areas of the state and nation. I doubt if they even got a letter of thanks. Then, too, there are the hospital profits contributed by the patients who reside In the area and some from other areas.

When you give a donation, substantial or otherwise, you supposedly give it for charitable reasons and to aid and benefit all mankind. You don't "buy" any part of a project.

Now, let's put an end to the provincialistic attitudes and support the Hospital's plan and efforts to provide good medical care for the entire area as originally planned.

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: February 20, 1984 Pathways.