Even at age 90, John Hobart of Smithfield still has the energy to deliver meals, participate in Rotary, and deliver Christmas trees to needy families. It’s his way of life. And service to humanity, he says, borrowing from the Jaycee creed, has been the "best work" of his life.

At its annual social, the Johnston Health Foundation honored Mr. Hobart for his service to community. Former hospital administrator Leland Farnell, who helped launch the foundation in 1992, introduced Mr. Hobart to the well-attended event at the Country Club of Johnston County.

"He serves the community behind the scenes without seeking credit," Mr. Farnell said. "He’s a Renaissance man whose interests have ranged from promoting the arts to leading the foundation to serving on the state board of history. He’s a man who serves without seeking credit."

Prior to the foundation, there was no sure vehicle through which people could make donations to the county-owned hospital, Mr. Farnell said. Having a foundation in place was an important step in the hospital’s growth, and a way to engage and reflect the community’s support, as it sought out grants, he said.

Mr. Hobart got interested in health care after having heart-bypass surgery in 1988, and a cancer surgery a year later. So, when the foundation board needed a chairman, it elected someone who was particularly passionate about providing the best possible care at the local hospital, Mr. Farnell said.

"And he didn’t just talk a good game," he said. "He used the local hospital and local physicians, and he shared his positive experiences as a patient."

As the first chairman, Mr. Hobart focused primarily on bringing in equipment and developing the first cardiopulmonary center, which was on the ground floor of the hospital. He remembers feeling especially proud on the day that the foundation presented a $50,000 check for the project.

Mr. Hobart and his wife, Frankie, are philanthropists. In 2006, the couple established a volunteer community-service award endowment with the North Carolina Community Foundation. And he gives an award every year honoring an employee of Davidson College, his alma mater.

Mr. Hobart was the dean of student affairs at Johnston Community College for 21 years before retiring in 1990. He said his interest in service began when he was a Boy Scout. "I’ve always been an advocate for community service," he said. "And I so appreciate being honored by the foundation.

READ MORE about John Hobart, who helped launch Johnston Community College 50 years ago this fall, on this week's FEATURE PAGE>

Johnston Health has received an “A” in The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2019 Hospital Safety Grade. The high mark highlights efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

"We’re continually striving to provide safe and quality care to our patients," said Chuck Elliott, president and CEO of Johnston Health. "I applaud our employees and physicians for their dedication, hard work and commitment to providing the safest and best possible care."

Johnston Health performed above average in the areas of safety relating to surgery, practices to prevent errors, and safety problems, such as falls and dangerous bed sores. The hospital also had high ratings on communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, and effective leadership to prevent errors.

Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital-safety data to assign the grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

Johnston Health, part of the UNC Health Care System, is based at its Smithfield hospital (formerly known as Johnston Memorial), with a second location in Clayton.

Johnston Health names interim CEO

Johnston Health's governing board has selected Tom Williams to take over as interim Chief Operating Officer when CEO Chuck Elliott retires next month. The board will undertake "a national search" for a permanent replacement.

Mr. Williams is a long-time leader at UNC REX Healthcare in Raleigh, currently serving as Vice President of Ambulatory and Support Services. He's overseeing construction of a new community hospital in Holly Springs and will continue oversight of that project while serving as interim CEO for Johnston Health.

He grew up in Franklin County, where he still resides with his family.