James L. Henry

James Lidge Henry, 93, beloved patriarch of the Henry family and former chief executive officer of Baptist Medical Center/INTEGRIS Health, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Thursday, May 25 in Oklahoma City.

James (Jay) was born on July 14, 1929 on a farm located five miles west of Wayne, Oklahoma, the youngest of Elisha Newton and Julia Lucinda Campbell Henry’s six children. The family relocated to various Oklahoma farm communities including Jay’s sentimental favorite, Corbett.

Graduating from Midwest City High School, Jay took on a summer job at Children’s Hospital during the polio epidemic, an experience that fueled his interest in the medical arena. He completed his baccalaureate degree as one of the first two hospital administration graduates at Oklahoma Baptist University where he also met his wife and beloved partner in life, Margaret Lois Jolley from Enid. Jay followed graduation with two years of service in the U.S. Army, the birth of daughter, Susan, and completion of his master’s degree at Northwestern University under the tutelage of Dr. Malcolm MacEachern, known as the “father of hospital administration education.” The family moved to Houston, where he completed his administrative residency at various hospitals and welcomed the birth of daughter, Sara. Jay’s career took him to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo followed by an administrator position at Park View Hospital in El Reno in 1957 where son James (Jim) was born.

As Oklahoma City’s medical needs grew, community, physician and Baptist leaders approved a 22-acre tract on Northwest Highway for the construction of Baptist Memorial Hospital. Twenty-nine-year old Jay arrived as a new staff member in late 1958 and was named acting administrator in 1960, taking on the official role on January 1, 1961, a title that earned him a distinguished national reputation as a leader and visionary. Jay and Margaret welcomed the birth of son, Jason, the same year.

Jay spent hours walking the halls of the hospital, greeting employees of every level by name. He developed lifelong friendships with colleagues and members of the medical team. The hospital was renamed Baptist Medical Center in 1972 and expanded from a 188-bed operation into a sprawling medical complex with 577 beds by his retirement in 1987.

Under his watch, the hospital experienced many of the state’s firsts including heart transplantation and cochlear implant surgery, as well as the development of specialized centers that included the Burn Center, Oklahoma Transplant Center, Cancer Center of the Southwest, Oklahoma Heart Center, and the Henry G. Bennett Jr. Fertility Institute. The nation’s first hospital-based fitness center, PACER, started operations in 1978. The hospital reorganized in 1983, when Jay took over the role as chief executive officer of the newly formed parent organization, Oklahoma Healthcare Corporation. He was known as an exceptional planner and visionary, always looking ahead in 5- and 10-year increments, and had a great talent for surrounding himself with excellent staff and leadership chosen from all over the country.

Jay lent his support to colleagues at other hospitals both locally and statewide. He was active in numerous medical organizations in Oklahoma, serving terms as President of the Oklahoma City area hospital council and working on select committees of the Oklahoma County Medical Society. He participated in the formation of EMSA and the Oklahoma Blood Institute. He was board chairman of the Oklahoma Hospital Association in 1968 and received OHA’s Cleveland Rodgers Distinguished Service Award in 1974. In 1977, he joined with 29 other hospital administrators across the country to form a shared service consortium of not-for-profit hospitals to form Voluntary Hospitals of America. In 1986, he formed Voluntary Hospitals of Oklahoma and served as its first chairman.

At the time of his departure in 1987, the hospital was a major force in Oklahoma City with a $100 million annual budget, a highly qualified medical staff of physicians in every specialty, and staff of over 2,000 employees. He continued working in an advisory capacity, offering assistance and expertise to medical operations around the world.

Jay and Margaret were devoted attendees of Nichols Hills Baptist Church, where Jay served as a deacon, and the couple later attended Westminster Presbyterian Church.

He was a fun, hands-on father who made it to recitals and coached sports teams, gardened with his daughters, and took the family on memorable car trips to Colorado, Wyoming, California, Mexico, Hawaii and a cruise in the Caribbean. He ran the 15K Tulsa Run and was famous in the kitchen for his sourdough pancakes and pralines. His many interests included golf, collecting fine wines, reading historical biographies, sailing, and dancing and travelling the world with Margaret. The couple treasured their four children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Jay was compassionate beyond measure and if ever needing help or advice, he quickly lent a hand to family members or friends.

Jay loved his wife Margaret deeply and greatly missed her presence after her passing in March, 2022.

He bravely faced a diagnosis with Alzheimer’s in 2015 and in later days found pleasure in stories about rural Oklahoma and weekly visits from family. Jay is survived by Susan and Terry Clark, Sara and Perry Kaufman, Jim and Jennifer Henry, all of Edmond and Oklahoma City, and Jason and Karen Henry, of Redondo Beach, California. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Brigadier General Ed Ellis, of Colorado Springs, and sister-in-law Marilyn Jolley Kincannon, of Enid. Other survivors include all six grandchildren and their spouses and significant others, Chad (Candie), Jared (Angela), Bobby (Catherine), Alexx, Roxanne (Dillon), and Sam (Sophy), and two great-grandchildren, Hugo and Ellis.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Cameron Steele, INTEGRIS Health Great Plains Physicians, Stonecreek Assisted Living & Memory Care, the nurses and doctors at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center and INTEGRIS Health Hospice House. In remembrance of James’ life, the family asks that charitable donations be made to INTEGRIS Health Foundation or the charity of your choice.

A funeral service will be held for James at 11:00 am, Friday, June 2nd at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery at 12:00 pm.

If you are unable to attend James' Funeral Service in person it will also be streamed live online at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY4NTE0MjAxMzI1MzQzMyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Henry family.