Jack Murrah, former president of the Lyndhurst Foundation, will step down from Erlanger hospital’s board of trustees at the end of the month.
Mr. Murrah, who began his board tenure 14 months ago, said he will be moving back to his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., in August, to help address family needs there.
“It really grieves me to have to separate from such an important institution,” he said in a Thursday interview. “But family trumps everything else. … I feel really bad about stepping down after I’d gotten so invested in it.”
Hamilton County legislators appointed Mr. Murrah in May 2009 to the board of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority, which oversees Erlanger hospital. Mr. Murrah succeeded former state Sen. Ray Albright, who resigned from Erlanger’s board less than halfway through his four-year term, citing personal reasons. Mr. Murrah’s term would have lasted through the remainder of Sen. Albright’s.
Local lawmakers are beginning a search for a replacement, said Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, the county legislative delegation’s chairman.
“I’ve encouraged members to begin contemplating who the people are they might nominate for the delegation appointment,” he said. Mr. Murrah “was a fantastic appointment by the delegation, and his expertise will be difficult to replace.”
Erlanger’s 11-member board is made up of four trustees appointed by the County Commission, four by the City Council and one each by Chancery Court judges, the Chattanooga and Hamilton County Medical Society and the legislative delegation.
Erlanger board Chairman Dan Quarles said Mr. Murrah’s inquisitiveness and sense of humor will be deeply missed on the board.
“He just did his homework. He didn’t just come to the meetings and take notes. He pursued it beyond that. He pressed me to ask questions and he asked me questions,” he said. “He took his job very seriously.”
Mr. Murrah said he hopes to move back to Chattanooga in a year or two, if possible.
BOARD MEMBERS
Dan Quarles, board chairman
James D. Hutcherson, vice chairman
Kim H. White, secretary
Russell T. King
Dr. Charles F. Longer
Ronald A. Loving
Patrick E. Quinn
George L. Shuford III
Jennifer Stanley
James A. Worthington Jr.