Greenville doctor retiring, community invited to drive-by parade

GREENVILLE – HSHS Holy Family Hospital is hosting a celebration parade in honor of Dr. Boyd A. McCracken’s 43 years of care to the community.

McCracken’s patients and community members are invited to celebrate his retirement on Sunday, July 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.  To ensure everyone’s safety, the celebration will be held in the form of a drive-by parade past the front entrance of HSHS Holy Family Hospital.  Those interested in thanking the doctor from their cars may drive through the covered entrance anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. Snickers (Dr. McCracken’s favorite candy) will be handed out to those who come by.

“Our community has been blessed to have such an excellent care provider for so many years. Dr. McCracken compassionately cares for all of his patients. He will be greatly missed,” said Kelly Sager, president and CEO of HSHS Holy Family Hospital. “We wish him and his wife Janet well on a much-deserved retirement.”

McCracken started his practice in 1977 in Greenville.  McCracken continued to be a pioneer in health care for the local community by recognizing the need to continue supporting the hospital in an ever-changing health care environment. He joined HSHS Medical Group in 2016 and continued to serve his friends and neighbors over the years.

McCracken shared his fond recollections of his family’s history of providing care to the Greenville community.

“When I began in practice in 1977, I joined my father, Dr. Boyd E. McCracken, Dr. John Dawdy, and Dr. Tom Dawdy. My grandfather, Dr. W.A. McCracken, began his dental practice in Greenville in 1918 and practiced his entire career here,” he said. “In fact, there has been a Dr. McCracken continuously working in Greenville for 102 years. My father had two brothers – Willis McCracken and Lionel McCracken – who were both dentists also. Lionel practiced in Greenville briefly during the 1950s. So, for a time there were three Dr. McCrackens in active practice at the same time,” he shared.

During retirement, McCracken plans to spend more time with his five grandchildren and his three adult married kids, as well as enjoy fishing and playing golf. “I have no plans to leave,” he said. But someone else has some plans for his retirement. “My wife says I first have to clean up the basement,” he said with a smile.

For more information about the celebration in honor of the doctor’s retirement, call (618) 690-3410. For information about HSHS Holy Family Hospital, visit Holy Family’s website at hshsholyfamily.org.