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Christian Community Clinic of Jackson County Executive Committee Chairman Ed Rodriguez has been picked as the 2011 Jackson County Man of the Year by the Newport Independent.
The 63-year-old Houston, Tex. native retired from the phone company in 2003 after 23 years and now devotes his time to helping out at the clinic.
"The idea of having a free clinic became very dear to me when Reverend Charlie Sigmun first talked about it in 2009," Rodriguez said. "According to the last census, there are over 53-million Americans in the United States that don't have health insurance."
Providing free health care to those that need it is important to Rodriguez.
"Compared to other places, Jackson County isn't able to take care of its needy like everybody else does," Rodriguez said. "We have to rely on people helping other people.”
“Some people need help, and you have to have volunteers in order to get it,” Rodriguez said. “That is what makes a city, a town, a county or a state what it is. It is the people behind it that are trying to help others."
Rodriguez was surprised to learn he was chosen to be the 2011 Jackson County Man of the Year.
"Winning came as a shock to me because I wasn't expecting it," Rodriguez said. "It is both an honor and a privilege. There have been alot of people that have won it in the past that are probably more deserving than I am."
Rodriguez is quick to point out that others deserve credit for the clinic's success.
"We have a very good group of volunteers, an excellent group of board members and a terrific group of medical providers," Rodriguez said. "Those people make up the clinic. All of the medical providers have full-time jobs, and they find time once a month to come out here and see patients."
Next month, the clinic will have been open for two years, and the board that oversees the clinic will hold its annual meeting on January 30.
"It is very important for everybody to know that this clinic is here for the people of Jackson County and the surrounding areas," Rodriguez said.
Christian Community Clinic of Jackson County Executive Committee Chairman Ed Rodriguez has been picked as the 2011 Jackson County Man of the Year by the Newport Independent.
The 63-year-old Houston, Tex. native retired from the phone company in 2003 after 23 years and now devotes his time to helping out at the clinic.
"The idea of having a free clinic became very dear to me when Reverend Charlie Sigmun first talked about it in 2009," Rodriguez said. "According to the last census, there are over 53-million Americans in the United States that don't have health insurance."
Providing free health care to those that need it is important to Rodriguez.
"Compared to other places, Jackson County isn't able to take care of its needy like everybody else does," Rodriguez said. "We have to rely on people helping other people.”
“Some people need help, and you have to have volunteers in order to get it,” Rodriguez said. “That is what makes a city, a town, a county or a state what it is. It is the people behind it that are trying to help others."
Rodriguez was surprised to learn he was chosen to be the 2011 Jackson County Man of the Year.
"Winning came as a shock to me because I wasn't expecting it," Rodriguez said. "It is both an honor and a privilege. There have been alot of people that have won it in the past that are probably more deserving than I am."
Rodriguez is quick to point out that others deserve credit for the clinic's success.
"We have a very good group of volunteers, an excellent group of board members and a terrific group of medical providers," Rodriguez said. "Those people make up the clinic. All of the medical providers have full-time jobs, and they find time once a month to come out here and see patients."
Next month, the clinic will have been open for two years, and the board that oversees the clinic will hold its annual meeting on January 30.
"It is very important for everybody to know that this clinic is here for the people of Jackson County and the surrounding areas," Rodriguez said.
