St. Francis reception honors Cox
STEVE HARTMAN/DAILY FORUM
Debbie Hoffman, vice-president of patient services at St. Francis Hospital and Health Services, presents retiring president Gray Cox with a collection of Northwest football gear so the ardent Oklahoma Sooner fan could “… Remember what a national champion dressed like.” St. Francis held a retirement reception for Cox Friday, March 13.
Gray Cox, who retired January 6 as president of St. Francis Hospital and Health Services, was treated to a retirement reception Friday at The Bread Basket, the hospital cafeteria.
Cox has served as president of St. Francis since 2007, and had served the SSM Health Care organization for 25 years.
Ty Griffin, vice-president of operations and planning for St. Francis, served as emcee of a brief ceremony honoring Cox, and St. Francis vice-president of patient services Debbie Hoffman presented Cox with some retirement gifts.
Cox and his wife are moving back to Oklahoma, where Cox began his career with SSM in 1989 at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. Seven of the couples’ 11 grandchildren reside in Oklahoma, and Cox shared a humorous story about knowing when it was time to move back to Oklahoma.
“My wife and I were at a CiCi’s Pizza in Oklahoma, and I saw a young man with a Northwest Missouri State shirt in line,” Cox said. “I told my wife I bet I know that person, because the odds of seeing a Northwest shirt in Oklahoma are slim. I sat there for a few more minutes, then decided to go introduce myself.
“It was my oldest grandson Jered. I told my wife when you don’t recognize your own grandchildren, it’s time to see them more often.”
One of the gifts Cox received at the reception was a bag full of Northwest football attire. Hoffman said the staff wanted Cox, an Oklahoma Sooners fan, to remember how a national champion dressed.
Cox expressed his appreciation for his time in Maryville, leading St. Francis, and said the community and the hospital would always be special to him.
Following his remarks, the hospital cafeteria, The Bread Basket, treated the crowd to refreshments, which consisted of Cox’s favorites, sliders and homemade potato chips.
