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Dr. James A. Harrell, Sr. and his wife Isabel were honored at the Clingman Medical Center Annual Board meeting on Monday night.

Dr. Bill H. Davis, Jr., president of the Clingman Medical Center Board, presented a plaque to Dr. and Mrs. Harrell. Davis said the Meritorious Service Award was being given by the Board of Directors of Clingman Medical Center, Inc. in appreciation for the many years of service Dr. and Mrs. Harrell gave to the people of Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin and other areas of North Carolina.

Davis said that the care and well-being of others has been a life-long focus of Dr. Harrell’s.

“There are few families that have touched the lives of so many people in the positive ways the Harrell family does,” Davis siad. “We see people who make contributions in their profession, but seldom do we see the broad focus that is made in education, health care, religion and local government that has been made by Jim Harrell and his family.”

Harrell has served as mayor of Elkin, he’s provided philanthropic support to education and Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital and several other causes. Harrell graduated from Elkin High School as valedictorian, then graduated from the University of North Carolina, served in the military during World War II and became a dentists after graduating from the Medical College of Virginia. He’s been awarded the William R. Davie Award, worked as an Elkin commissioner for three terms and mayor for three terms.

“Anywhere you go in this town you can see Jim Harrell’s footprints,” Davis said. “During his term as mayor a new water plant, new sewer system, new fire station, new airport, new regional library, new hospital and two new bridges were built.”

Davis also said that Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital is Harrell’s “great love and passion.”

During the recent capital campaign, the hospital was able to raise $5 million, and Harrell was responsible for personally soliciting more than half of all of the money received, Davis said.

The Board of Directors of Clingman Medical Center donated a gift of $5,000 was presented to the Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Foundation Capital Campaign in honor of Dr. Harrell.