Retired chairman and CEO of The Home Depot Frank Blake today assumed leadership of the Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation Board of Directors, succeeding A.D. "Pete" Correll, a founding member of the board and its chair since the board's inception eight years ago. Correll will now serve as chair of the Grady Health Foundation - the entity responsible for securing private and philanthropic donations to support Grady Health System.

Correll was honored at today's GMHC board meeting for his service to Grady and his role in ensuring its financial stability.  Thomas D. "Tom" Bell, Jr., and Michael B. Russell, who worked closely with Correll to design and implement Grady's new governance structure, were also honored for their efforts to ensure that the health system will benefit the metro Atlanta region long into the future. All three men received proclamations in their honor from Governor Nathan Deal.

"I know that Grady and our region will never truly be able to thank them enough for their willingness to share their business acumen, leverage their community relationships and help raise the private funding needed to keep the doors open," said new GMHC chair Frank Blake.  "The recognitions announced today are one small way we can memorialize their efforts and will serve as an important reminder that when called, the community answered."

Blake and Grady CEO John Haupert today announced that the hospital's clinic building atrium will be renamed the Correll Atrium and dedicated at a later date.  In addition, the Grady Memorial Hospital Board Room will be renamed the Bell Russell Board Room and feature a plaque honoring the inaugural GMHC board in its entirety. 

"Pete Correll, Tom Bell and Michael Russell are men who lead by example," said Haupert.  "While Grady's problems appeared insurmountable to many, they identified a viable path forward that allowed this health system to survive, even as many of our peers throughout the nation were forced to close their doors.  Today's Grady is fiscally sound and we are confident that with Pete's leadership as chair of our foundation we will continue to attract the private and philanthropic investments needed for continued improvement and innovation."