Gary Bieganski appointed to college board

Gary Bieganski of McCook said he has had an almost life-long interest in the state college system and is looking forward to becoming involved in its planning and policies.

“I firmly believe that the state colleges have a vital role in higher education for all Nebraskans,” said Bieganski. “I look forward to working with the board to assure that the Nebraska State College System is strong and able to provide a variety of educational opportunities for our students and citizens of Nebraska.”

Bieganski will complete the term vacated by Steve Lewis, who moved from Lexington to Atlantic, Iowa, this spring. Lewis was appointed to a second six-year term on the board in February 2005.

Bieganski has been president and CEO of the Community Hospital in McCook the past 28 years. On July 1, he will become president emeritus and work part-time for the hospital until the construction of a $4 million rehabilitation center is completed in early 2007.

After that, Bieganski and his wife, the former Donna Rickenbach, will move into a new home that is under construction about 10 miles southeast of Chadron on land that is a part of her family’s ranch.

Bieganski’s parents, Ed and Fern, live along Highway 385 about eight miles south of Chadron. The family moved to the Chadron area in 1959. Gary completed his final two years of high school at Chadron Prep, graduating with the school’s final class in 1961. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Chadron State in 1969.

He got his start in the health care field while serving as executive director of the Northwest Nebraska Health Education Center that was a part of the Department of Adult and Continuing Education at Chadron State from 1969 through 1973. He then served five years as administrator of the West Holt Memorial Hospital at Atkinson for five years before going to McCook.

Stan Carpenter, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, said Bieganski’s background in administration, education and health care will be valuable to the state colleges.

Bieganski is a diplomat for the American College of Healthcare Executives, past chairman of the Mid America Hospital Alliance and on the board of directors of Midland Health Resources.

The Bieganskis have two sons. Allen is employed by Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. He and his wife, Linea, have four children. Mark works for an environmental laboratory in Fort Collins. He and his wife, Andrea, who is a physician assistant, have one daughter. Both are Chadron State graduates.

Mark was the Student Senate president and an Ivy Day orator while attending Chadron State.