McLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 9 MARCH 2011

(3/09/11) – The McLeod Health Board of Trustees continues its commitment to providing outstanding leadership, stewardship and oversight of fiscal health. Effective February 28, as the new Board terms began, Kaye Floyd-Parris transitioned from Vice Chairman to Chairman of the McLeod Board of Trustees and Charles J. Bethea of Marion assumed the position of Vice Chair. Former Board Chairman Ronald J. Ward, has completed his term as Chairman for the last three years, and continues his service on the board.

The McLeod Health Board is a self-perpetuating, 20-member governing board that includes seven physicians, including one emeritus member.

"We are extremely appreciative of the dedication and very hard work of these volunteer board members who embrace the mission of McLeod Health in service to the community and providing the delivery of excellence in health care," stated Rob Colones, President and CEO of McLeod Health.

According to Parris who has served for 16 years on the McLeod Board, "McLeod Health has so many talented Physicians, Nurses, Administrators, Staff and Board Members, and I am so proud of our hospital and to be a part of its continued growth. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Ronnie Ward, who has chaired our Board to its present height. He has continued to create a more involved and informed Board, active in committees and their growth. The organization is well managed and the Board provides appropriate counsel when needed.

"As Chairman of the Board of Trustees, it is my goal to continue the growth of our institution with a constant focus on quality of care for the patients of the region we serve. I also intend to build on the foundation of Ronnie Ward’s efforts to keep the Board active and involved in the growth of our fine institution," added Parris.

Before beginning her career in real estate in 1980, Kaye Floyd-Parris served as a Juvenile Probation Officer for family court in Pulaski, Virginia.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and social work from Radford College in 1972. She later obtained both a Real Estate License and a Broker’s License from Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Since 1980, Floyd-Parris has been heavily involved in Griggs-Floyd & Grantham, Inc., where she now serves as President. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce has recognized her as a recipient of the Presidents Award for Excellence, the 1992 Small Business Person of the Year and the 1994 Business Person of the Year. In 2001, she also received the Women of Achievement Award from the Girl Scout Council. She was most recently recognized by her peers as the Realtor of the Year for 2007 by the Florence Board of Realtors.

Her community involvements are widespread, with a special emphasis on cancer fundraising. Floyd-Parris was instrumental in starting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event in Florence in 1994, an event she has supported since its inception. She also actively serves on the committee that organizes the McLeod Health Foundation’s An Evening of Hope Cancer Benefit Dinner. In addition, she served as one of the chairs for the McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit Campaign.

Floyd-Parris is a Charter Member of the Dr. F. H. McLeod Legacy Society and she currently chairs the McLeod Foundation’s Planning Committee. She also serves on the Boards for BB&T and All Saints Episcopal Day School. In addition, she has long served as a member of the Florence Breakfast Rotary Club.

She is married to Julius G. Parris and has three children and four grandchildren.

Charles J. Bethea has served the people of Marion County for 35 years. His service to the community has included education, healthcare and progress.

Born and raised in McColl, a small town north of Bennettsville, Bethea received a degree in history from Clemson University in 1967. After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Frances Whitner of Bennettsville. He then served in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Branch as a Commissioned Officer for two years. He returned to Clemson University in 1970 and earned a Master’s degree in Education.

In 1971, Bethea began his education career in Marion School District One — working his way up from teacher at Marion High School, to Principal of Marion Elementary School, to Assistant Superintendent for Instruction to his final role in District One as Superintendent from 1988 to 1999. During his tenure with the school district, Bethea also received a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree from Winthrop College in 1988. He also completed additional graduate studies at Clemson, the University of South Carolina and Francis Marion University.

In 1996, Bethea was named the recipient of the Outstanding Superintendent Award by the South Carolina School Board Association.

Active in his community, Bethea has served on the Marion County Hospital District Board of Commissioners since 1982. In his role with Marion County Medical Center, he has served as Past Chairman of the Board as well as Chairman of the Marion County Progress Board where he served two terms as a member.

Bethea was named to the McLeod Health Community Board in 2006. Two years later, he was appointed to the McLeod Health Board of Trustees to fill the seat formerly held by Audrey Hunter who retired from the board. Currently, he is also a board member for Pee Dee Land Trust and Marion County Habitat for Humanity.

Bethea’s other community service roles have included serving as a member and past chair of the Pee Dee Education Center, the Marion Historic District Commission, and the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church of Marion. He has also served as a board member of the Marion Rotary Club, the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Pee Dee Education Foundation.

Besides membership in several professional education associations, Bethea is also associated with the American and Southern Historical Associations. In addition, Bethea has been an active member of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and Wildlife Action, Inc.

Bethea and his wife, Frances, have one son and two grandchildren.

Ronnie Ward has served his hometown for more than 30 years. His service to the community has included many aspects of the society. Born and raised in Darlington, Ward attended St. Johns High School where he was active in sports. He went on to attend Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he graduated in 1969.

Active in his community, Ward served Darlington as the Mayor from 1984 to 2004. Ward’s other services to his hometown have included serving as President of the Darlington Kiwanis Club, Director of the Darlington Chamber of Commerce, Commissioner of the Darlington Housing Authority, and as a board member of the Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association.

Ward has also shown his care for the Pee Dee Region through his involvement with the YMCA of the Upper Pee Dee, where he served as a Board Member and President. He also served as Vice President of the Pee Dee Regional Development Corporation.

On a state and national level, Ward has served in the capacities of Chairman of the South Carolina League of Savings Institutions as well as Commissioner of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. He also served in Saudi Arabia as Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army Reserves.

Ward was named to the Board of Trustees of McLeod Regional Medical Center in February of 1995.

Ward currently serves as Senior Vice President of Carolina Bank and Trust in Darlington where he has worked for 15 years.

Besides membership to several professional associations and governmental boards, Ward is a former deacon of First Baptist Church of Darlington and is a licensed residential home builder,

Ward and his wife, Susan, have three children, and three grandchildren.

McLeod Health is a regional referral tertiary care center serving patients and families living in the northeastern region of South Carolina. The 12-county area McLeod serves has a population nearing one million including those who live in Horry County. The mission of McLeod Health is to improve the overall health and well-being of people living within South Carolina and eastern North Carolina by providing excellence in health care.

Founded in 1906, McLeod is a locally owned, not-for-profit institution which features the strength of more than 400 physicians on the medical staff and more than 1,400 nurses, in addition to modern facilities; premier technology; and a dedication to improving the health of the communities it serves. McLeod Health is one of the largest employers in the region, composed of more than 4,700 employees and nearly 40 medical practices. The McLeod Health respected acute-care facilities, McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, as well as McLeod Medical Center Darlington and McLeod Medical Center Dillon, also give McLeod Health greater flexibility in providing care to those throughout the northeastern region of South Carolina.