Dan Gathright was a pillar of the community of Arkadelphia and of Southern Arkansas for decades. While attending school at Southern State College, now known as Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Dan worked as a dispatcher at the Magnolia Police Department. Upon graduating, he worked at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville before being named Assistant Administrator at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. In 1979, Dan moved to Arkadelphia and joined the Baptist Medical System where he served as Administrator of Twin Rivers Medical Center. He was later named Administrator and Senior Vice President of Baptist Health where he served until his death.

Dan Gathright was a member of the First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia, the Arkadelphia Rotary, the Clark County American Red Cross and a Board Member of the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Dan also served as President of the Clark County United Way and the Arkadelphia Band Boosters. His dedication to making Arkadelphia a better place to live could not have been greater. I am glad our paths crossed and I had the honor of knowing and working with Dan on health care issues.

My deepest condolences go to his wife, Shayron Looney Gathright of Arkadelphia; his son Michael Gathright of Frisco, Texas; his father, Archie Gathright of Magnolia; his sister Maretta Bullock of McNeil; and to his 2 grandchildren. Dan Gathright will be greatly missed in Arkadelphia and throughout the state of Arkansas.