1966:  The Fredericksburg Standard announces the formation of a citizen's committee to study the feasibility of building a new community hospital. Committee members include Alfred "Shorty" Crenwelge, Dr. Lorence W. Feller, Dr. J. Hardin Perry, Matthew Pyka, Henry L. Joseph, C.O. Balser, Fred Mathisen, Calvin Bierschwale, Henry J. Schimdt, Charles Barrett of Harper and Roy Weinheimer of Stonewall.

January 11, 1967:  The 11 member hospital feasibility study committee recommends building a new community hospital, calling it a "real and immediate need."


February 15, 1967:  The first artist's conception of what the new hospital will look like is made public. It shows a one-story brick structure with a raised central portion reflecting the main entrance. Hospital architects Page, Southerland and Page of Austin, recommend a 50-bed facility expected to cost $1.2 million.




February 23, 1967:  Allen Keller, chairman of the financial advisory committee of the proposed Hill Country Memorial Hospital, announces the start of the hospital's official fund drive to raise $600,000 and match a $600,000 Hill-Burton grant to fund construction.


July 26, 1967:  The hospital announces successful completion of its drive, ending up with $660, 102 pledged or given. An incredible 93 percent of local residents contributed to the extreme effort in those hectic and rewarding months.


September 28, 1967:  Local papers announce that Jerry L. Durr was selected as the hospital administrator. He had already been working on that project for over a year.











February 28, 1968:  Hospital board members select a 14.4-acre site on Hwy. 16 South, across from Fredericksburg High School for construction.


January 27, 1969:  Hill Country Memorial Hospital Auxiliary came into official being when it was chartered by the Texas Association of Hospital Auxiliaries. Original officers are Emmie Schroeder, president; Cecelia Henke, vice president; Dorothy Schmidt, recording secretary; Regina Glover, corresponding secretary; Evelyn Kilman, treasurer; Ruth Nettle, parliamentarian; and Onieta Bartholmae, historian/publicity.


July 11, 1969:  Construction begins on the community's new 50-bed hospital.


1971:  Hill Country Memorial Board of Trustees charter members appointed.
Front Row from left:  Robert W. Klingelhoefer, Col. Alfred Petsch, Secretary Henry Joseph, Vice Chairman Allen Keller, Board Chairman Alfred Crenwelge, Treasurer Calvin Bierschwale, Matthew Pyka, Jr., and E.H. Becker.
Back Row from left:  Felix C. Hahn, Jr., Roy Weinheimer, Warren Petsch, Otto Schumann, Werner Henke, C.O. Balser, Fred Mathisen, Dr. Lorence W. Feller, Henry J. Schmidt, Wesley Crenwelge, Floy Bode and Desmond Sagebiel. Not present:  Dudley Althaus, C.L. Brown, H.H. Fricke and Dr. J. Hardin Perry.



February 21, 1971:  Hill Country Memorial announces opening. Over five thousand people attend.




February 22, 1971:  Hospital receives its first patient. That night, at 10:37 pm., the first baby arrived: Stacy Rose Klein, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Klein of Stonewall.


1973:  The Hospital adds a physical therapy service


1974:  The Hospital opens a two-bed intensive care unit and dedicates a 40x40-foot reinforced concrete helicopter landing pad.


1976:  Nuclear medicine services are added.


August 10, 1980:  The Hospital opens the new $2.43 million dollar South Wing with 12 patient beds and a five-bed ICU.


1981:  Hospital adds cardiac stress testing.


1982:  Ultrasound services added, Hospital unveils a new Tree of Life rund-raising program and endowment fund, HCM Home Health Care services begin.


1983:  Eye surgery services signal the beginning of a new era for specialty care, Hospital begins "rooming in" services for obstetrical patients where babies may stay in the room with their moms rather than in the nursery, Lifeline emergency responses system added to home health care services.


1984:  Eckert-Smith Medical Office Building opens with four physicians suites.


1986:  Hospital adds a CT (computed tomography) whole-body scanner, The hospital assumes control of the Fredericksburg School of Vocational Nurses formerly operated by the Fredericksburg Independent School District.


1987:  Passport 55 seniors program begins, Gala I helps fund a dedicated mammography unit.


1989:  HCMH Foundation created, Gala II raises funds for a labor and delivery room.


1990:  Hospital opens the HCM Wellness Center, Gala III benefits the Wellness Center's cardiac rehab program.


1991:  The hospital opens a new outpatient facility, a laboratory three times the size of the original, an expanded outpatient parking area, a dedicated entrance lobby for the area, and a remodeling project that expands surgical, emergency and radiology areas.


1992:  Gala IV helps fund the Wellness Center's Community Fitness Trail.


1993:  Gala V raises money to benefit pediatric services.


1994:  Hill Country Memorial Hospice begins.


1995:  The hospital opens its 15,000-square-foot Phase II expansion and 5,000 square-foot renovation projects. The $3.3 million dollar effort houses 12 private day-surgery recovery rooms, four exam rooms for visiting physicians, a chemotherapy suite, a staff education/development area, two endoscopy rooms, a remodeled emergency room with separate public and ambulance entrances and a remodeled switchboard facility, Gala VI helps fund aquatic facilities for the Wellness Center - Construction to start in 1996, Hospital installs a powerful new MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) unit in a newly completed MRI building on the hospital campus.


1997:  Gala VII provides support for the HCM Community Health Center.


1999:  Hospital opens the 42,000-square-foot Perry-Feller Professional Office Building, Gala VIII raises a record amount to benefit a dedicated women's imaging area.


2000:  Marble Falls Specialty Clinic opens.


2001:  Gala IX provides seed money fo ra proposed Women's Pavilion birthing center., Hospital increases number of beds from 61 to 77, adds 31,000 square feet of new construction and renovates another 30,000 square feet. The project adds five new operating suites, a seven-bed post-anesthesia recovery area and a family waiting area. It dramatically expands imaging services and adds a new 70-seat dining room and expanded kitchen facilities, plus a new main entrance, Auxiliary gift shop and main entrance.


2002:  Hospital adds its own in-house rehabilitation program with a staff of 16 professionals. It also opens the only sleep lab outside the metropolitan areas of Austin and San Antonio.






2003:  The HCM Women's Pavilion opens. The $3.5 million dollar birthing facility is debt-free thanks to generous local support and qualifying grants, The hospital installs a $1.4 million dollar, state-of-the-art MRI unit, Gala X provides seed money for a new and expanded ICU.


2004:  Hill Country Memorial is named a Solucient 100 Top Hospital, one of only 20 community hospitals in the nation to achieve this ranking.


2005:  Gala XI raises a record amount to help equip and furnish a new ICU.

















2006:  The hospital marks its 35th birthday by opening the 10 bed, $4.56 million dollar Don and Julie Holden Intensive Care Unit. Don and Julie Holden were stalwart supporters, who contributed to many HCM project to help patients.









2007:   The Brune Professional Building, named in honor of Ed and Trudy Brune, opens as the new home of the hospice and home care programs. The Brunes are loyal supporters who have contributed to the continued advancement of HCM care., Gala XII raises funds to finalize purchase of state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment and a cancer resource center.









2008:  The HCM Cancer Resource Center (CRC) opens inside the Brune Professional Building., HCM Breast Center also opens inside the Brune Building and adjacent to the CRC.





2009:  Gala XIII raises funds for angiography equipment for two cath labs, HCM opens a Kerrville Clinic at 1331 Bandera Highway.










2010:  HCM establishes a new home for its growing rehab services department, the HCM Rehab Clinic, on the northwest corner of Milam and Windcrest streets -- freeing up 4,200 feet of space at the HCM Wellness Center., HCMH Foundation establishes the Schwindt Endowment Fund based on a transformational gift from the estates of Walter A. and Hannelore Schwindt., The Hospital adds a dedicated breast ultrasound unit at the HCM Breast Center., Ed and Trudy Brune funded a second palliative care suite at the hospital., HCM Auxilian Audrey Kothmann donates funds in honor of the Auxiliary to remodel the front entrance and lobby, as well as expand the Auxiliary's gift shop.