Participating in the health careers club in high school was just a way to escape class, but for one Hilmar man it grew into a love that has led him to an important role in Turlock’s community hospital. 

Arlon Waterson, co-owner of Hilmar Lumber, has joined Emanuel Medical Center’s Board of Directors.

“I’ve always been supportive of the hospital,” Waterson said. “I was in a health careers club when I was at Hilmar High and first got to know Emanuel then.”

After high school his volunteering pastime paused until his wife Susan Waterson became a nurse at Emanuel Medical Center. 

Once he continued his pastime at Emanuel, he served on the Festival of Trees committee to help raise money for Hospice of Emanuel and he also joined the Hospice of Emanuel Advisory Board.

“I guess I’m a good fundraiser because then they asked me to be on the Emanuel Corporate Relations Committee,” Waterson said.

The Waterson’s are also a part of the Legacy Circle of Emanuel Medical Center. In the past 10 years, Legacy Circle community and employee volunteers have created, funded or built the Emanuel Cancer Endowment, the Critical Care Center and the Mary Stuart Rogers Birthing Center, according to the Emanuel Medical Center Web site.

On the board of directors, Waterson plans to make his main focus on keeping Emanuel Medical Center independent and fiscally sound.

“I think it’s important to have a community hospital run by the community,” Waterson said.

Waterson is one of 12 directors serving on the board for the hospital where he will help set policy and direction for the medical center.

To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.