Joplin, MO. – Under the banner of “A Century of Service, A Legacy of Caring,” Freeman Health System celebrated 100 years of health care in style Thursday morning with an outdoor rededication ceremony.

The gathering included more than 150 guests, including trusted community partners, state and local dignitaries, several direct descendants of Freeman Health System’s founder, John W. Freeman, and past and current Freeman team members – all stakeholders to the progress and success of the System over the past 100 years.

“Over the past 100 years, we have witnessed extraordinary progress in healthcare – from rudimentary treatments to groundbreaking surgical techniques, from limited diagnostics to advanced imaging, and from basic patient care to holistic wellness program,” said Matt Fry, Freeman Health System’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Freeman has not only kept pace but has often led the way.”

The 75-bed Freeman Hospital, attached to John W. Freeman’s 18-room Joplin home, opened to the public in 1925 at 2008 Sergeant Ave. The hospital employed a staff of 19 nurses and five surgeons/physicians.

“We started as a small, local hospital, and today, we stand as a leading regional health system, continually expanding our services, embracing new technologies, and setting new standards for patient care,” Fry concluded.

Here in 2025, noted Joplin historian Brad Belk, “I suspect that the father of Freeman Health System, John W. Freeman, would be astonished of how far Freeman Hospital has traveled since 1925. How could he possibly comprehend that his gift to our community would lead to employing 5,300 workers in three states at thirty locations?”

Dr. Lance Beshore, chairman of the Board of Directors for Freeman Health System, called the health system’s centennial celebration a “truly monumental milestone” for the community. To that end, Freeman was recognized with a City of Joplin proclamation from Mayor Keenan Cortez. A second proclamation was presented to Fry by Cortez from Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.

“One hundred years. One century of healing, service, and unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our community,” Dr. Beshore said. “As we look around this gathering, it’s impossible not to feel the presence of all those who came before us – the visionary founders who, a century ago, embarked on a journey driven by a simple yet powerful ideal: To provide compassionate and advanced healthcare to Southwest Missouri and beyond. They laid the bedrock of what would become Freeman Health System with courage, foresight, and an incredible spirit of generosity. We admire their tenacity, their dedication, and the foundational values they instilled, which continue to guide us to this very day.”

During his speech, Belk hit upon several key moments that helped expand Freeman from a single hospital facility into a thriving health system that serves as the region’s single largest employer.

• When Joplin businessman Myron McIntosh donated 20 acres in 1969 and a construction drive spearheaded by TAMKO executive and Freeman board member Leland Browne raised $1.2 million that eventually resulted in the opening of a two-story, 120,000-square-foot, 144-room hospital at 1102 W. 32nd Street in 1975.
• The acquisition of Neosho’s Sale Hospital in 1993, becoming Freeman Neosho Hospital.
• The merger of Freeman Hospital with Oak Hill Hospital in 1995, becoming Freeman East, and creating Freeman Health System.

“This is truly a celebratory occasion,” Belk said. “We should always recognize how we arrived here today, to never forget our past and to always celebrate the landmark moments that define us and make us unique.”

Thursday, added Dr. Beshore, is not a day just for remembrance, but for renewal.

“It is a promise to our community that the legacy of compassionate, excellent healthcare will not only endure but will flourish,” he said. 

Calling Freeman’s history a “remarkable feat,” Fry said none of Freeman’s success over the last 100 years could have happened without a team approach from every facet of society.

“How have we achieved this remarkable feat? It's simple, yet profound. It's because of you,” Fry said. “To our founders, whose vision laid the groundwork; to every colleague and volunteer, past and present, who has walked these halls; to our board members, our generous donors, and our invaluable community partners; and most importantly, to the millions of patients and families who have entrusted us with their care – my deepest appreciation goes out to each and every one of you. You are the heartbeat of Freeman Health System.”