
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1994                   TAG: 9405250038
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By ERIKA BOLSTAD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOSPITAL DEDICATES ADDITION

The South Pavilion of Roanoke Memorial Hospital was dedicated Tuesday afternoon, with Steve Allen Jr. as the keynote speaker at a ceremony in Victory Stadium.

Allen, a doctor and the son of the famous TV entertainer, encouraged everyone to practice preventive health care by adding a little humor to life.

``I encourage you to get as creative and silly as you can,'' Allen said. ``Studies have shown that the same part of the brain active during creative problem-solving is active during laughter.''

Allen also encouraged wellness by prescribing a daily dose of ``silliness.''

Allen said the first definition of the word "silly" in the dictionary says inane, stupid and childish.

``If you look it up in an older dictionary the root word is 'selig,' meaning blessed, prosperous, happy and health, all words describing the mission statement of Roanoke Memorial Hospital,'' Allen said.

About 300 community members and employees of the hospital attended the ceremony in which Houston Bell Jr., the hospital's president, emphasized a commitment to wellness.

``We are rededicating ourselves to a mission of continuing service and caring,'' Bell said.

The addition contains all of the hospital's surgical and acute care facilities. The hospital's intensive care, progressive care, coronary and surgical bed space has been increased.

The 10-year, $50 million project opened earlier this year, but Tuesday's ceremony was the official dedication. As the dedication ended, a helicopter landed at the new Life-Guard 10 Heliport on top of the glass-walled South Pavilion.

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers also attended the ceremony.

``I'm proud to stand here in front of the new pavilion, the hospital, the mountain and the star, all prominent symbols of a progressive Roanoke,'' Bowers said.

Bowers called Roanoke Memorial Hospitals and Carilion Health System ``exemplary corporations'' in Roanoke.

The ceremony was opened with a musical prelude by the High Street Baptist Church choir. Rick Osmann, chaplain at the hospital, led the invocation and the dedication.

by CNB