End of an Era: Longtime Good Samaritan Board Members Conclude Service

Today marked the end of an era at Good Samaritan as two long-serving members of the Hospital’s Board of Governors—Mary Cay Martin and Jim Zeigler—concluded their distinguished terms of service at the board’s May meeting.

Martin began her tenure on February 9, 1998, and Zeigler joined the board on April 8, 2003. Over the decades, both played vital leadership roles, each serving multiple terms as Board President. Zeigler led the board from 2007 to 2009 and again from 2016 to 2021. Martin served as President from 2009 to 2013 and most recently held the role of Vice Chairwoman.

Throughout their combined 48 years of service, Martin and Zeigler helped guide Good Samaritan through transformational growth—from CEO transitions and major facility expansions to the introduction of new care models and partnerships.

Martin said joining the board was one of the most meaningful decisions of her life. “This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had,” she shared. “I’m so grateful to Sherry Gregg Gilmore for asking me to serve and for supporting me throughout the years.”

She pointed to the construction of Gibault Memorial as a proud milestone. “It was a bold decision at the time,” she said, “but after many hours of discussion, we knew it was the right choice for our community and our hospital employees.”

Martin also highlighted the launch of the hospital’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), now Family Health Center. “Our administration saw a need and took action,” she said. “Serving on that board and watching it grow has been incredibly rewarding.”

On a personal note, she added, “Being elected Board President was one of the proudest moments of my tenure. I hope I’ll be remembered as someone who was deeply committed to the success of Good Samaritan.”

Zeigler echoed a deep appreciation for the hospital’s mission and impact. “I am most proud of the fact that Good Samaritan is the largest employer in the county, with around 1,800 people in good-paying jobs,” he said. “At the same time, we’re providing excellent health care not just to Knox County, but to many communities in Indiana and Illinois.”

He also emphasized the importance of the physician residency program created in collaboration with hospitals in Evansville and Jasper. “With the help of Dr. Charles Hedde, this initiative was launched to help ensure our community has access to more doctors in the future.”

“I love this hospital and its commitment to the community,” he added. “People should know they can receive top-tier health care right here at home.”

Good Samaritan CEO Rob McLin expressed heartfelt gratitude for their leadership. “I’ve had the privilege of working with Jim and Mary Cay for their entire tenure on our Board of Governors,” he said. “For the past 15 years, they’ve been my ‘bosses,’ and I’ve been honored to work with two individuals who gave of their time to lead Good Samaritan toward our ultimate goal of providing world-class care through world-class caregivers.”

“Mary Cay and Jim were always present and fully engaged in ensuring our hospital delivered the best care possible to the 10 counties we are blessed to serve. Their focus on our patients and our 1,800 caregivers was unmatched,” McLin continued. “Personally, I will miss their leadership, their mentorship, and their positive outlook on health care and the constant change we face. They’ve become lifelong friends.”

He concluded, “I can only hope our new members can match the passion and commitment shown by Jim and Mary Cay over the past 25 plus years.”

Martin and Zeigler will be succeeded on the Board of Governors by Craig Kirk and Dr. Lance Payton. Kirk serves as Vice President/Senior Commercial Banking Executive at First Financial Bank, and Dr. Payton is President and CEO of Midwest Emergency Medicine, Inc., as well as an Emergency Department Physician at Good Samaritan. They begin their terms in June.