2000's CCHOAA WINNER

William E. Hale, a pharmacist and a physician by training, is perhaps best known as the founder and Director Emeritus of the Florida Geriatric Research Program of Morton Plant Mease Health Care, as well as someone who has long been active in furthering the quality of life of the elderly, in both his work and his writings. The Geriatric Research Project, a longitudinal study, has been collecting data on the elderly for more than 25 years; this work has led to more than 80 publications by Dr. Hale in leading medical journals, as well as many lay columns and articles.

Such an impressive background and numerous accomplishments led to Dr. Hale’s service as a founding director of the education and research division of The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast He is also an active volunteer with organizations committed to the developmentally disabled and has overseen the development of new residences for elderly mentally retarded persons. His community contributions appear to be endless...and his supporters many!

Congressman Mike Bilirakis who knew Coly Hardy commented: “Within every community there are a select few for whom the terms leadership and service are synonymous. These are the community leaders who give tirelessly of their time and resources for many years. Their goal is not recognition; it is a stronger community – person by person. As an advocate for older Americans, Dr. Hale is that kind of leader. His extensive, multifaceted contributions on behalf of our seniors have literally changed our community: saved lives, extended lives; made lives better. Dr. Hale epitomizes Coly Hardy’s purpose in serving…that his work would “make the world a better place in which to work, to live and to have our being.”

Dr. Hale has received many honors from community organizations throughout the State. His commitment to seniors is extraordinary. He exemplifies Coly Hardy's belief that those privileged and educated persons in this country have a duty and responsibility to return something to society.

In Coly that “something” was a vision of how the State of Florida should be the Nation’s leader in pursuing effective public and private sector approaches to its exploding older population. Dr. Hale embodies that vision, wisdom and diligent advocacy on behalf of older Floridians.