McCleskey, George 1998-11-16

Lubbock attorney George McCleskey talks about his involvement with the merger of Methodist and St. Mary’s hospitals to form the Covenent Health System.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: George McCleskey

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: November 16, 1998

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Allison

Length: 1 hour

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: McCleskey, George, born in Norfolk, Virginia, during World War II, Father had a law practice in Lubbock, Grew up in Lubbock, Graduated from North Texas State and Baylor, University School of Law, Law Practice, Dallas, Texas, McKinney, Texas, Lubbock, Texas (1976), Trial work, Banking law, Plains National Bank, Fulton family, Alan White, Methodist Hospital, Member of the board, Served a two-year position as Chairman of the Board, Alan White (again), George McCleskey (again), Served on hospital board until 1996, Bill Poteet—one-time CEO of Methodist Hospital, Paul Sheilder (?)—COO of Methodist Hospital, George McCleskey (again), Had a heart attack, December 25, 1994, Decided to get out of general legal practice (1995), Began working full time for Methodist Hospital, Managed parts of the hospital after Sheilder and Poteet left, Paul Sheilder (again), Bill Poteet (again), Columbia Hospital, Byron Hale, CFO, helped manage hospital, Alan White (again), Talks between St. Mary’s, St. Joseph’s and Methodist Hospital, Talks of a merger began (1995), St. Joseph’s (California), Rich Stato (?), Paul Biviano, Opinions, Byron Hale (again), Reasons for the merger talks, Change in health care industry, Cost, Survival, Competition, Not just local, but state and national, Rural areas, 50% of business, Helicopter services, Federal Trade Commission, Legal requirements.

Tape 1, Side 2: Theory behind the merger, Federal Trade Commission (again), Attorney General’s Office of Texas, Federal Trade Commission (again), Didn’t understand the health care industry, Anti-trust laws weren’t made for health care industry, But manufacturers improvements were made, Medical programs, Medicare, Early programs, DRG, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Rural areas (again), Hospital jurisdictions, Rural doctors, Doctor’s group, St. Mary’s Hospital, Rural areas (again), Competition with other regions, Clinics, Concerns, Lubbock economy, Working with Texas Tech University.

Range Dates: 1944-1998

Bulk Dates: 1976-1998

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

---

Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.