(June 2021) – Remembering KHA President Don Wilson
Written by Chad Austin, president and CEO, KHA
Originally published in the May 21 issue of KHA's Current Report weekly newsletter.

Throughout this week, the Kansas Hospital Association family has been mourning the passing of former KHA President Don Wilson. Don was a thoughtful, staunch leader and faithfully served the KHA membership from 1982 until his retirement in 2004.

When Don first arrived at KHA in 1982, he already had a wealth of health care experience. He started his career in health care in 1969, as the administrator of the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls, IA. Subsequently, he transitioned his career into association management where he served as a vice president for the Iowa Hospital Association. Shortly thereafter, he left that position to become the new president for the Kansas Hospital Association.

During Don's leadership tenure, he was instrumental in leading KHA through a number of innovative initiatives still benefiting the KHA membership. Under Don's guidance, KHA established the KHA Workers' Compensation Fund, the KHA Political Action Committee and oversaw the merger of the Kansas City Area Hospital Association with KHA. He also directed KHA's involvement with the formation of the Health Alliance of MidAmerica, a partnership between the Missouri and Kansas Hospital Associations. Don was a true health care visionary. In recognition of this and upon his retirement, KHA established the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award. This award recognizes hospital-related individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative contribution to improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community. While Don's leadership influenced the Kansas health care system, he also left his mark on the national level. Don frequently traveled to Washington, DC, where he met with congressional officials, as well as the leadership of the American Hospital Association. His involvement and role with AHA landed him the AHA's Board of Trustee Award in 2003.

While Don's contributions to the hospital community will continue to be noticed for years to come, it was his personality that many people remember. Don was an avid outdoorsman and always sought opportunities to gather with family and friends. Whether it was guided fishing trips, spur-of-the-moment golf outings or discussing college sports, Don enjoyed the company of those around him. The relationships Don developed over the years had a lasting impression on everyone he crossed paths with, including me.

You can't get very far in talking about Don without mentioning his wonderful wife Jan. Jan was regularly by his side and always filled with cheer and happiness. Together, they had three children…Mary, Michael and Philip; and seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

While Don will be sorely missed, the legacy he built through his relationships with his family and friends will carry on. On behalf of the KHA family, we send Jan and the rest of the Wilson family our condolences and prayers during this difficult time.

View Don's obituary here.
--Chad Austin