Lincoln Health Foundation

Directors Community Plan Advisory Board Staff Conduct & Governance

HISTORY OF LINCOLN HEALTH FOUNDATION

Lincoln Health Foundation is a non-profit foundation operating in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. It was incorporated under the non-profit laws of the State of Louisiana on July 18, 1996. Its stated purpose is found in Article 6 of its Articles of Incorporation. Part of that purpose is to use its present assets to "improve health care and outcomes for residents of the area historically served by Lincoln Health System, Inc., d/b/a Lincoln General Hospital, in accordance with Louisiana law applicable to the use of proceeds from the sale of non-profit hospitals."

The roots of Lincoln Health Foundation extend to the formation of Lincoln General Hospital, Inc. on January 16, 1962. Lincoln General Hospital, Inc. was also formed as a non-profit corporation and, under an arrangement with the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, operated a hospital ("Hospital") owned by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and located in Ruston, Louisiana. The Hospital was operated under the trade name, "Lincoln General Hospital." Lincoln General Hospital operated the Hospital from its formation in 1962 until the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, pursuant to an affirmative vote of the voters of Lincoln Parish, sold the hospital to Lincoln Health System on December 31, 1996.

Lincoln Health Foundation was incorporated on July 18, 1996, as a non-profit corporation domiciled in Lincoln Parish. Its first Directors were:

1) Wilburt Ellis
2) Dan Hollingsworth
3) John Buske
4) Wayne Parke;
5) Paul Hogan
6) Ted W. McKinney

These were all former directors of Lincoln General Hospital, Inc. On July 18, 1996, the same date of its incorporation, Lincoln Health Foundation, together with Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, St-Francis Hospital in Monroe and Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe formed "Lincoln Health System, Inc.," a Delaware non-profit corporation. Lincoln Health Foundation acquired a 60% ownership interest in Lincoln Health System. All of Lincoln Health Foundation's Directors acquired positions as members of the 10-member Lincoln Health System Board of Directors. On December 31, 1996, Lincoln Health System acquired all of the assets of Lincoln General Hospital, Inc. by means of merger. Lincoln Health System also acquired the trade name, "Lincoln General Hospital," and continued to operate the Hospital under that trade name until it sold the hospital to Ruston, Louisiana Hospital Company on April 1, 2007, for $36,000,000.00. Ruston, Louisiana Hospital Company, LLC continues to operate the Hospital, but now under the trade name, "North Louisiana Medical Center."

Subsequent to the sale of the Hospital, the Shareholders of Lincoln Health System, Inc. voted to liquidate the Corporation. Lincoln Health System, Inc. is currently in liquidation with Lincoln Health Foundation as its largest Shareholder. As such, Lincoln Health Foundation receives periodic distributions of proceeds from the sale of the Hospital. These proceeds, combined with income from other sources, provide funding for the community projects undertaken by Lincoln Health Foundation as part of fulfilling its purpose as stated in its Articles of Incorporation.

P.O. Box 2635
305 South Vienna St.
Ruston, LA 71273-2363
318-251-5847

Our Mission is...
to improve health care and outcomes for residents of Lincoln Parish.

Our Vision is...
to facilitate health-related initiatives, programs, and services that improve the quality of life for the residents of Lincoln Parish.

Quick Links

Board of Directors

Community Plan Advisory Board

Staff

Ethical Conduct & Governance

Meet Our Board of Directors

/\ Back to Top

Shirley P. Reagan, PhD, Chair

Dr. Shirley Reagan serves as president of Lincoln Health Foundation. After a career of over 30 years at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, she retired while serving in the position of Dean of the College of Business. She continues to be active in a number of professional and community organizations.

Wilbert Ellis, Vice Chair

Mr. Wilbert Ellis serves as vice-president of Lincoln Health Foundation. He retired from Grambling State University after 43 years where he served in various capacities including Athletics Director, Head Baseball Coach, Dean of Men and Counselor. Mr. Ellis has served as a board member of numerous organizations including Lincoln General Hospital, American Baseball Coaches Association, and is the president of the Friends of Eddie G. Robinson Museum. He is actively involved in numerous other civic and community organizations.

James Davison, Secretary / Treasurer

Mr. James Davison serves as the secretary-treasurer of Lincoln Health Foundation. He is the former President and CEO of Davison Transport, Inc., and Davison Petroleum Products, both of which were sold to Genesis Energy, L.P., in 2007. Mr. Davison remains a substantial stockholder in Genesis Energy, L.P. He is actively involved on the Board of Directors of several organizations and is a member of several local foundations.

Allen Herbert, MD

Dr. Allen Herbert has served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Health Foundation for 3 years. He is a practicing Family Practice physician at Northern Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston, LA. He has been a director of Lincoln Health Foundation for three years. He received his Masters of Public Health degree from Harvard University and has served as an assistant professor at Tulane School of Public Health and at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He served as Lincoln Parish Coroner for 9 years.

Fredric Hoogland

Mr. Fredric Hoogland has served on the board of directors of Lincoln Health Foundation for3 years. He is the owner and chairman of the board of Hoogland Nursery and Landscape Company. He was twice elected as the state president of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscaping Association. He served as president of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury for eight years and was the designer and coordinator of the Lincoln Parish Park. He presently serves a member of the Northern Louisiana Medical Center Board of Directors and is actively involved in several professional and community organizations.

John Belton

Mr. John Belton has served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Health Foundation for 3 years. He is a career prosecutor who has served his community as a courtroom advocate for 16 years. As a practicing attorney in the firm Belton & Belton, Attorneys At Law, Mr. Belton is a legal instructor and was the recipient of the Southern University Law Center's 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award. He is active in numerous community and foundations in North Louisiana.

Benny L. Denny

Mr. Benny Denny has served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Health Foundation for 3 years. He is the President and CEO of Bank of Ruston and has been involved in the banking industry in Ruston, LA since 1992. Mr. Denny has served as the chairman and director for numerous organizations including Lincoln General Hospital, Inc., Community Bankers of Louisiana, and the Lincoln Convention & Visitor's Bureau. He serves on several local Foundations and is an active member of numerous professional and community organizations.

Ben P. Haley, MD

Dr. Ben Haley has served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Health Foundation for 3 years. Prior to establishing a successful practice in anesthesiology, Dr. Haley served as a flight medical officer in the United States Air Force. He maintained his practice of anesthesiology for 34 years before retiring in 2004. He is actively involved in numerous professional and community organizations.

Jo Tatum

Mrs. Jo Tatum has served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Health Foundation for 3 years. She is retired from the Lincoln Parish School Board as a Registered Nurse. She also served as a Lincoln Parish School Board Member for Ward Four in Dubach, LA. She has an Associate Degree in Nursing from Louisiana Tech and has been the representative of the Lincoln Parish School Board on the Lincoln Health Foundation for 3 years.

/\ Back to Top