People: Elizabeth General Chief Executive Officers

Throughout the history of the Elizabeth General Hospital and Dispensary / Elizabeth General Hospital / Elizabeth General Medical Center, a Board of Managers (later called a Board of Trustees), was ultimately responsible for overseeing the direction, development and operational policies of the hospital. In early years, the functioning of the Board was led by a “President” and other officers who served on a volunteer basis. The title “President” later evolved to “Chairman of the Board.”

Over time, with the increased complexity of managing its responsibilities, the Board of Trustees found it necessary to hire full-time administrators or chief executive officers to provide professional management of the hospital. The title of this position evolved from Superintendent to Director and finally to President/Chief Executive Officer. This position is tasked with implementing the goals and objectives of the Board, managing hospital operations including the development of a management organization structure, building a strong relationship with the medical staff, supporting the work of the Foundation, Ladies Aid Society and volunteers, and serving as hospital liaison with local and state government and community agencies. They were agents of progress that brought everyone together under their guidance and leadership.

This page is dedicated to these past leaders who provided both their vision and oversight throughout the hospital’s history. They witnessed and participated in the growth of Elizabeth as well as the evolution of healthcare from the early days of horse-drawn ambulances to state-of -the-art robotic surgery.

James R. Mays
Superintendent
1931-1936

Austin F. Knowles
Superintendent
1903-1910

James R. Coddington
Superintendent
1899-1902

Louis R. Curtis
Superintendent
1897-1898

This information was last reviewed or updated on October 14, 2026. Adjustments may be made to this page as new information is added, making this a continual work in progress.