[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24900]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHN HESTIR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARION BERRY

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2007

  Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
Arkansan and a fine citizen of DeWitt, Arkansas. I am proud to 
recognize Dr. John Hestir in the United States Congress for his 50 
years of service as the leading medical professional in DeWitt, 
Arkansas. He has made numerous invaluable contributions to his 
community, his state and our Nation.
  Originally from Des Arc, Arkansas, John Hestir attended University of 
Arkansas and later the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, 
Texas for graduate school. While attending school in Texas, he accepted 
an offer to serve as the primary doctor of DeWitt, Arkansas.
  When Hestir first moved to the small town, DeWitt had limited 
capacity for medical services. The town had no hospital or ambulance 
and the closest emergency medical facility was a 12 bed hospital in 
Stuttgart, which is over a half an hour away by car. However, the 
sparse amenities did not discourage Hestir from providing the citizens 
of DeWitt the medical care they needed. With some perseverance and 
ingenuity Dr. Hestir engineered miracles that went beyond medicine.
  Dr. Hestir knew that in order for him to better serve the people of 
DeWitt he needed an improved medical facility. In 1962, Hestir 
convinced the mayor, Jim Colvert, to apply for a government grant to 
build an 18 bed hospital. Today, the hospital has been expanded to a 35 
bed facility, serving DeWitt and the surrounding areas. Hospital 
capacity is not the only expansion happening in DeWitt. With this new 
hospital and other improved medical care, people are living much 
longer. When Dr. Hestir first arrived in DeWitt, the life expectancy 
was 58 for men and 62 for women, today the average stands at 78 for men 
and 84 for women.
  Dr. Hestir embodies the old fashion values of service, leadership and 
commitment to his community that have made our State and our Nation 
great. He has dedicated his life to serving the people of DeWitt as a 
leader in both his profession and his community. On behalf of the 
United States Congress, I extend congratulations and best wishes to my 
good friend Dr. John Hestir, for 50 years of outstanding personal and 
professional achievements.

                          ____________________