SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 51
Relating to recognition of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
WHEREAS, on January 11, 1937, Governor Lloyd C. Stark of Missouri in his inaugural address stressed the desirability and importance of a cancer hospital, which should be available to "the humblest citizen"; and
WHEREAS, Senator Michael Kinney of St. Louis introduced a cancer hospital bill to the 59th General Assembly, a measure which was subsequently passed and signed by Governor Stark on May 28, 1937; and
WHEREAS, the bill provided for the erection and operation of the first state cancer hospital in the country and provision for the establishment of diagnostic clinics, and for the Governor to appoint a State Cancer Commission to supervise the maintenance and operation of the state's cancer program and to appoint a hospital administrator; and
WHEREAS, the cornerstone for this historic state cancer hospital was laid December 9, 1938, and the hospital opened in 1940 as the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital in honor of Dr. Ellis Fischel, a St. Louis surgeon who was a staunch advocate and chairman of the Missouri State Cancer Commission who suffered an early and unfortunate death before the hospital was completed; and
WHEREAS, the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital has a long and historical record of compassionate cancer treatment for the citizenry of Missouri and beyond, and of cancer outreach education and prevention activities that have engaged virtually every county in the State of Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital, which has been owned and operated by the State of Missouri under the authority of the Missouri State Cancer Commission for fifty years, was transferred by Governor John Ashcroft from management by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to that of the Curators of the University of Missouri, a sovereign entity of the State of Missouri, on November 1, 1990; and
WHEREAS, this transfer of management and the merger of the highest quality cancer research, education, and treatment programs between the staffs of the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital and the Medical School of the University of Missouri-Columbia, which resulted in renaming the program the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, has resulted in a State Cancer Hospital that provides research in the causes, prevention, and treatment of cancer of the very highest quality care for Missourians:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-second General Assembly, the House of Representatives concurring therein, unanimously join in extending our recognition of the history and service of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center as the designated cancer institute of the State of Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.