Organizer Profile
Boone Hospital Center (BHC)

Boone Hospital Center (BHC)

Columbia, Missouri, United States of America

A History of Boone:
The story of Boone County Hospital actually starts in 1917, four years before the hospital’s grand opening. That year, the Missouri General Assembly passed a law allowing counties to issue bonds to fund the construction of health facilities.

With the law in the books, Boone County became among the first counties in the state to pursue constructing a hospital. On April 29, 1919, Boone Country residents approved a plan to spend $100,000 to construct a hospital.

Work progressed throughout 1920 and 1921. In August of 1921, as the hospital neared completion, Nurse Eleanor Keely was hired as the hospital’s first administrator.

The original hospital building that opened in 1921 still stands as part of the hospital campus. It has been remodeled and expanded several times over the years. It is still in use.

Reflecting BHC’s long history in mid-Missouri, in 2011 the hospital was named to the Boone County Historical Society Hall of Fame. Dr. Nifong was also inducted into the hall alongside the hospital he helped found.

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