Dec. 12, 2010 — Cibola General Hospital is pleased to announce the 2010 Hall of Fame Inductees: Dr. Norton R. Ritter, Mrs. Chelnissa “Babe” Ritter, Mr. And Mrs. R.B. Candelaria, Dr. Jane C. Pitts, and Ms. Manuelita “Mannie” Martinez.

Dr. Ritter and his wife “Babe” were founding contributors to the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Candelaria donated the five acres of land the original and existing hospital was built upon. Dr. Jane Pitts was a beloved physician and community activist who passed away unexpectedly this past spring. Mannie Martinez is a long-time hospital employee who served 43 years at CGH as an obstetrics nurse.

Recognizing that many individuals often play an important role in achieving the success of an organization, including those who often reside outside its four walls in the community, Cibola General Hospital created the Hall of Fame Award program in 2009. Nominees for the award must have exhibited commitment to the hospital and the community and have shown dedication to the healthcare field and the service of others. Physicians, board members, volunteers, and philanthropists were eligible.

Hall of Fame nominations were submitted by members in the community and reviewed by the Board of Trustees to determine the recipients of the award. “We had several nominations of outstanding individuals who've contributed to the hospital and the community” says Ida Chavez, Board President. “It was difficult to narrow it down to the existing six inductees, however some of the nominees submitted are still contributing to the community and we will be honoring those individuals in future.”

2009 Inductees included: Dr. Diane Banks, Dr. J.H. Fjord, Dr. Gilbert Gutierrez, Frank and Zoila Holmberg, and Dr. Arnolfo Valdivia.

Cibola General Hospital will be hosting a dinner and dance to honor these Hall of Fame Inductees and celebrate 50 years of serving the community. The dinner will be Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 6 pm at the Best Western Inn. Tickets are $35 each or 2 for $50. The local band “Common Ground” will be playing. For tickets or more information call Jenny Jensen at (505) 287-5300.