Honoring Lowell C. Kruse For His 20 Years of Service As President and CEO of Heartland Health
HONORING LOWELL C. KRUSE FOR HIS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HEARTLAND HEALTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 13, 2004)
Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Lowell C. Kruse, President and CEO of Heartland Health, an employer of 2,600 located in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Kruse has exemplified the finest qualities of leadership and service and is being honored for his 20 year commitment to Heartland Health and the people of northwest Missouri.
Mr. Kruse was born in Lake City, Iowa, just about four hours north of St. Joseph where he currently lives with his wife of 40 years, Leslie Marsden-Kruse. Together, Lowell and Leslie have three adult sons. Mr. Kruse began his career in 1967 as the Assistant Administrator of St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the next ten years, Mr. Kruse held leadership positions in a variety of health facilities in the Minneapolis area, before moving to New York in 1977 to become President and CEO of Park Ridge Hospital and Nursing Home in Rochester. Two years later, he became President and CEO of Update Health System, Inc. in Rochester. In 1984, Mr. Kruse came to St. Joseph as President and CEO of Heartland Health, and he hasn't looked back since. During Mr. Kruse's tenure as President and CEO, Heartland has been the recipient of the Missouri Quality Award, the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, and in 2000 was named one of the top 100 hospitals in the country for orthopedics and cardiovascular care. Mr. Kruse has been the recipient of the Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award from the American Hospital Association, and the Visionary Leadership Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Hospital Association. In addition to his work at Heartland, Mr. Kruse currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Premier, Inc., the Excellence in Missouri Foundation, and the Missouri State Coordinating Board for Higher Education.
Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending the career of Lowell C. Kruse, who exemplifies the qualities of dedication and service to Heartland Health and the people of northwest Missouri.