OakBend Medical Center Board President Receives Statewide Recognition


Bob Douds, Jeff Haley, Joe Freudenberger, Douglas Thibodeaux, Barry Beard, Tim McCarty, Norma Petrosewicz, May Tape, Debra Kruse, Sue McCarty, Tom Crayton, Ruthanne Mefford, John Zerwas and Jeff and Ann Council.

Bob Douds, Jeff Haley, Joe Freudenberger, Douglas Thibodeaux, Barry Beard, Tim McCarty, Norma Petrosewicz, May Tape, Debra Kruse, Sue McCarty, Tom Crayton, Ruthanne Mefford, John Zerwas and Jeff and Ann Council.

Jeff Council of OakBend Medical Center is the recipient of the 2016 Founders’ Award, Texas Healthcare Trustees’ (THT) highest honor. The awards presentation took place July 29th during THT’s 2016 Healthcare Governance Conference in San Antonio.

Trustees are leaders who go above and beyond as they work to improve health care in their communities. To celebrate these individuals who go to extraordinary lengths, Texas Healthcare Trustees created the Founders’ Award in 1972, which was given to the five founders of THT for their leadership, dedication to the principles of the organization and their commitment to excellence in health care governance.

“Jeff is an even more impressive person than a trustee if that is possible, given his history serving OakBend and our community,” said Joseph Freudenberger, OakBend Medical Center CEO. “He understands that people are our greatest resource and takes the time to let those around him know how much he cares about them. He is perhaps the most positive person I know and was instrumental in my development as a new CEO. I’m honored to call Jeff my friend and mentor.”

Council was first elected to the board of directors in 1982. He served as treasurer of the board in 2001 and president from 2002 to 2008. Under his leadership as president, the hospital’s board of directors was presented with the Excellence in Governance Award by THT’s Texas Academy of Governance. He retired from the board due to term limits in December 2008, rejoined in 2013 and currently serves as chairman of the board of directors.

Additionally, Council served as a member of the Texas Hospital Association Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2008 and currently is a member of the THT Chairman’s Council. His past and present civic involvement includes the Rosenberg-Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend County Fair Association, West Fort Bend Management District, Fort Bend Helping Hands, Lamar Little League Baseball, Lamar Athletic Booster Club and Fort Bend County A&M Club. In 2006, Council and his wife, Ann, were recognized for their hours of volunteer service to the community and to OakBend when the professional medical building adjacent to the hospital was dedicated in their honor.

Visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org for more information.