T.C. THOMPSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITALThe hospital spent $2.1 million renovating its outpatient surgical unit and more updates are planned. But T.C. Thompson is next door to Erlanger's downtown campus and there's no room to expand, so hospital leaders say a new building will be needed, likely by 2020.
Descendants of T.C. Thompson, a former Chattanooga mayor who helped found the region's only children's hospital at Erlanger Health System, bristled this week at reported plans to rename the hospital that has borne his name since 1929.
"I just think it would be a shame for them to do something like that," said Elizabeth Norris, a local real estate appraiser and Thompson's granddaughter. "My grandfather is responsible for us having that hospital."
On Thursday, Erlanger President and CEO Jim Brexler declined to comment on whether a name change is in the works.
On Friday, Erlanger spokeswoman Pat Charles said the possibility of a name change is in such early stages that the hospital had not yet contacted Thompson's descendants.
"It's under discussion but no decisions have been made yet, and obviously it would be important to talk to the family," she said.
But later Friday afternoon, Norris said she received a call from Brexler assuring her no name change is planned. She said Brexler asked her to call a Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter to ask that a letter to the editor she'd written on the matter be withdrawn.
"He just assured me that my grandfather's name was not going to be removed from that hospital," Norris said. "He's the head honcho, so you've got to take him at his word."
Thomas Clarkson Thompson was elected mayor of Chattanooga in 1909 and again in 1911. He oversaw the creation of Warner Park.
After leaving office, he led the local Civitan Club's push for a $250,000 bond issue to build the children's hospital.
"My grandfather hated to see little children in rooms with old people," Norris said. "He thought children should have their own hospital."
According to the city's website, during construction Thompson insisted that the hospital avoid "charity wards" by making no distinction in patient areas between patients who could or couldn't pay for care.
Six years after Thompson's death in 1923, trustees voted to name the hospital in his honor.
Contact staff writer Emily Bregel at ebregel@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6467.