Hendrick head honcho Tim Lancaster named Abilene's top citizen

The parting gifts, and good-natured parting shots, have begun.

Tim Lancaster, who is retiring as president and CEO of Hendrick Health System, a position he has held since 2004, was honored Thursday evening as the 2018 Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

Lancaster is stepping down Dec. 31.

"I was shocked," said Lancaster, who was announced as the recipient by 2017 winner Norm Archibald. "At the end, I was still trying to figure out who he was talking about. His clues were very general. Even when he said 'Tech field' ... I didn't know until he said my name."

Lancaster did not get the spotlight to himself. Besides being joined on stage by his wife, Regina, he was surprised by more family, including grandsons Shepherd, 4, and Hooper, 3, of Lubbock. The western-attired youngsters almost stole the show.

"I was about to talk about Regina," he said at the podium, "and my family appeared. I am a blessed man."

Easy choice 

Many believe Lancaster has blessed the city.

"He invested in everyone in Abilene, not just Hendrick," said Scott Hibbs, president of Enprotec/Hibbs and Todd, a civil, environmental and geotechnical engineering firm with offices in Abilene. Lancaster, he said, understood the "fabric of who and what Abilene is."

Hibbs chaired the committee that sought the successor to former Hendrick boss Mike Waters. He also is chairman of the chamber board and said there was no argument when Lancaster's name arrived at the top of the list for top citizen.

Lancaster follows Archibald, who in June 2017 ended a record 13 years as mayor of Abilene, as outstanding citizen. Archibald is vice president of Hendrick's foundation, overseeing major gifts and planned giving.

Hendrick, then, has produced consecutive top citizens.

Taking the Abilene Convention Center stage, Archibald said he was speechless last year. But not this time, so he was going to give the final 20 minutes of his acceptance speech.

Archibald called his 2017 award "as nice as an honor I ever received. I was overwhelmed ... especially when I saw the names of the other people who I considered mentors and heroes, people we owe a great debt of gratitude toward."

Now, below Archibald's name and among others honored since 1946, is that of Lancaster.

"You look at those who have come before you ... they're just legends," Lancaster said. "They have my respect and admiration. That's a long list of people who have done great things for this community."

Scott Dueser, chairman, president and CEO of First Financial Bankshares, said Lancaster's name belongs on that list.

"There is no question in my mind he is the person of the year," said Dueser, who accepted the same award in 2009. 

Many irons in his fire

Lancaster came to Abilene from Brownwood, where he had been CEO of Brownwood Regional Medical Center. He had been senior vice president at Hendrick before taking the Brownwood post.

"It was evident to the committee when we went through the process that we had the right man for the job," Hibbs said.

Back in Abilene, Lancaster oversaw an $86 million project to expand hospital services. Hendrick has more than 500 beds and serves a 29-county area.

Hibbs, who has been on the Hendrick board for 26 years, called Lancaster "the best strategic thinker and leader I've been associated with."

Lancaster previously chaired the Texas Hospital Association, which includes 500 hospitals. The organization gave him the 2017 Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration. He has logged more than 30 years in the health care field, including five years as CEO of the Cogdell Memorial Hospital in Snyder.

He also chaired a health care committee organized by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

In 2013, he was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, for which he currently is vice chairman. He also is a member of the school's alumni association and Chancellor's Council.

That 'Tech field' thing

Dueser said few people have been more important to Abilene in recent years than Lancaster.

A former president of the Tech's Board of Regents, Dueser noted Lancaster's role in bringing the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to Abilene. The first of three schools opened in 2007.

Hendrick gave land and its expertise to the project, Dueser said. As a group, Abilene came up with $50 million to provide Tech a base here. 

Bringing Tech to Abilene's education community added "brain gain," he said, to the city, both through employees and their children.

The center has schools of nursing and pharmacy but also is known for its research, including cancer.

"It's such a positive for Abilene," said Dueser, noting the working relationship between the center and nearby Hendrick.

Archibald, too, noted how Lancaster balanced overseeing one of the city's top employers yet finding time to "make Abilene a better place" through his participation in organizations that include Boy Scouts, Abilene Industrial Foundation and Community Foundation of Abilene.

"He contributed his leadership skills to lots of Abilene organizations, and that is significant," Archibald said.

Asleep in his seat, not at the wheel

Hibbs said he was impressed by the "tireless and energetic" Lancaster, even after the hours he put in with his day job of overseeing the work of 3,400 employees.

And maybe that's why Regina Lancaster always drove when her husband had to travel miles and miles of Texas.

"He said that was so he could work, but every time I passed him I'd see him sacked out sound asleep," Hibbs said. "I always gave him a hard time about that, and we called him Miss Daisy, from the movie.

"Maybe he was recharging" to get ready for the next task, Hibbs mused.

"She definitely is the better half in that relationship," he said. "They both have been such a big part of Abilene."

Noting Lancaster will move to Lubbock after his retirement from Hendrick at year's end, Dueser said "he is leaving behind a great legacy."

Other awards were announced Thursday, after which the famed Texas dance band Asleep at the Wheel performed.

Tribute was given to the four Dyess Air Force Base airmen who safely landed their B-1B bomber earlier this at Midland International Air and Space Port. The crew was preparing to eject from the craft but one crew member's ejection seat wouldn't work. The crew chose to not to abandon one of their own and were able to land the plane.

They are instructor pilot Maj. Christopher N. Duhon, weapons system instructor Capt. Matthew Sutton, student pilot 1st Lt. Joseph Welch and student weapons officer 1st Lt. Thomas C. Ahearn. They were not at the event but recognition was accepted by Col. David Doss, vice commander of the 7th Bomb Wing.

A standing ovation was given the airmen.

Chamber award winners

► Excellence in Agriculture Award: Capital Farm Credit

► Redcoat of the Year: Susan Holland

► Hispanic Business Council Champion Award: Fat Matt Roofing

► Corporate Star Award: Black Plumbing

► Military Affairs Committee Award: Judy and Allan Farmer

► Leadership Abilene Award: Barbara Dahl, Hendrick Home for Children

► Young Professional of the Year: Alex Russell

► Chairman's Award: Gray Bridwell, MAC