Long-Time Therapists Reflect as Department Marks 60 Years

PHOTO BY DAVE WHALEY
Retired physical therapists Garth Taylor, center, and Neil Bower, right,
reminisce about the early days of physical therapy at Alton Memorial
Hospital as athletic trainer Aaron Suessen, far left, listens Jan. 13.

(Alton, IL -February 2, 2010) � The admiration and respect between Garth Taylor and Neil Bower is apparent even now � 25 years since they worked together. But it�s no surprise given the fact that they worked in the same department at Alton Memorial Hospital for an incredible 33 years.

Taylor and Bower, now both in their 80s, visited with the Human Motion Institute therapists recently as the department celebrated its 60th anniversary. Physical therapy at AMH had just begun when Taylor arrived in July 1950. Bower joined the staff in October 1951. Although others joined the team in the intervening years, Taylor and Bower were a team until Bower�s retirement in 1985.

�We worked hard and also had a lot of fun,� said Taylor, who didn�t retire until 1990. �That was one of the happiest days here when Neil joined the staff. I guess we just hit it off right away.�

Taylor was originally from the Quincy area while Bower grew up in New Jersey. Taylor came to AMH from Stanford University and Bower did his training at the University of Colorado. In the early 1950s, physical therapy could mean many things but what it mostly meant was treating children afflicted with polio.

�Polio kept us busy all the time,� Bower said. �And to this day we still keep track of many of those patients. A lot of them are lawyers and judges now.�

One of those is retired Associate Judge Lola Maddox of the Madison County Circuit Court.

�We were the only polio treatment center between St. Louis and Springfield,� Taylor said. �So we had children coming from all over southern Illinois. You had to feel sorry for those parents. They didn�t know anything about Alton, and certainly nothing about these guys Taylor and Bower. But they were leaving their most prized possessions in our hands. But when they came to visit each Wednesday night, that was the best PR we could ever do for our department. We built a lot of good relationships that way.�

Taylor also remembers working with Eunice Smith, whose family started Alton Memorial Hospital.

�I figured since she pretty much owned the place, there was no reason to make out a bill for my services,� he said. �I found out later she went down to Charles Freeman (AMH administrator at the time) and asked him how he could operate a hospital if we didn�t charge anything.� As Taylor and Bower looked out at a room full of therapists, they likely could only dream of a staff that large.

�I just hope you all have half as much fun as we did,� Taylor said.

�What I enjoyed most was the camaraderie with fellow workers as well as patients, and the knowledge that you have the skill to promote healing and transfer that to others less fortunate.�

Their dedication has been passed down to the staff today. Sue Walker presently manages AMH�s Rehabilitation Services, which includes the Human Motion Institute and Transitional Care Unit.

�Alton Memorial Hospital's Rehabilitation Department has grown from two physical therapists -- Garth and Neil -- to 50 professionals who provide physical, occupational and speech therapy in outpatient and inpatient settings, athletic training in various school districts, sports performance and skilled nursing,� Walker said. �Our rich rehabilitation heritage began 60 years ago with Garth and Neil, and we are grateful for their exemplary professionalism. These gentlemen are genuinely remarkable.�