The city of Hinton has named Chad Meador the Spirit of Hinton Honoree in a year fraught with anxiety and sickness, a world upside down, a pandemic of epic proportions. Chad Meador heads the Summers County Health Department and has served on the front line in Hinton and the surrounding areas, the leader of a staff he commends for working every bit as hard as he has since COVID-19 came to town.
“I appreciate the recognition for the opportunity to serve in this capacity, but it hasn’t just been me,” Meador smiled. “The nurses, the administrative staff, the health department’s board, everyone involved with the local health department. We have all worked the same hours through these troubling times,” Meador continued and added more. “I want to credit my staff and the entire community, the hospital, the educational system, the city of Hinton, county commission, the folks at the 911 Center, Steve Lipscomb, emergency and first responders and our journalists. I mean it,” he concluded, but not without pointing out what he calls a silver lining to the incalculable number of hours, personal sacrifices and community coordination required to handle such a pervasive viral threat.
The silver lining of having been a player in a time of crisis like this is having relationships with people I didn’t even know before COVID-19. I now speak with Steve Lipscomb daily, the hospital administrators, Senator Stephen Baldwin,” he said. “In years past, if I talked to a senator it was only in passing. Now we are working on task forces together. It is helping us prepare for the next emergency or crisis.”
The efforts of the hospital has been a huge, Meador claimed, “because the hospital has been testing every single day, and without the hospital we would not have been able to conduct enough testing throughout the county”.
Among the list of credits Meador named included: Amy Justice, the health department’s full time public health nurse; Tamara Lilly, contract nurse and RN; Jane Keaton, the office administrator; and staff members Brittany Lilly and Kelly Brogan.
“They’re the ones in the health department building every day and they take their work home with them every night and every weekend,” Meador said. “We were just comparing notes on when we are coming in tomorrow,” he slightly chuckled. “The mayor, Jack Scott, and the city of Hinton, the Summers County Commission, our newly elected state Senator Jack David…” he added, “came together and we have experienced a true and real community effort. If we have needed something they are here to help. Everyone here, truly, in the city of Hinton working throughout this pandemic are the Spirit of Hinton.”
Asked how he may have changed during the past year, Meador responded, “You tend to value your time more when you work this much, time slips away from you. My son has one foot out of the door, time flew with regard to my kids, and my wife.” Meador affirmed, “We need to continue to follow the guidelines, we just need to follow them. No matter your politics or what you may believe, follow the guidelines and let’s get through it. A vaccine is coming — maybe as soon as April or sooner, maybe even next month — for a very targeted audience, healthcare workers, and then the public.”
Optimistic news from Meador quickly followed, “I was just told that in a conference call with health department administration and state officials. It’s a two shot series. If you get your shot today, 21 – 28 days you will have to come back for the second shot.”
Lots of planning and coordinating with other agencies, like law enforcement and traffic control will be needed for a county wide vaccination event, “because it has to be,” Meador claimed.
In the meantime, the long hours and unending demands on their time are long from over for Meador and staff. Dr. Clay Marsh with West Virginia University medicine — basically the health czar for WV — talks about all things medical and predicted the West Virginia version of COVID-19 over the next month or two is going to be the worst, and he’s pretty optimistic.
“Hindsight is 2020,” Meador concluded. “If this all happened again we just have to keep moving forward and hope for better days and trust in God.”
Hinton Mayor Jack Scott announced Meador as the 2020 Spirit of Hinton Honoree by saying, “Healthcare and emergency responders, retail workers and anyone who works with the public worked under conditions that none of us have ever witnessed. But through it all, brave men and women have stepped up to make sure residents have food and healthcare and other essential needs. One of those persons is Summers County Health Officer Chad Meador.”
Scott further explained that, “Chad has worked tirelessly through this National Health Crisis to keep our community informed and to advise those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Chad will tell you he hasn’t worked alone in protecting our community but he certainly stepped up immediately as this crisis unfolded and he hasn’t stopped. As our positive infection number began to climb it was suggested to Chad to ask for help from the National Guard on contact tracing. Chad’s response was that he felt a responsibility to do that himself because he felt people recognized and knew him and would trust hearing from him. If you know Chad, you know what an accurate assertion that is, and what an outstanding example of the type of public servant Chad truly is.”
Scott expanded on the honor, “Without question, Chad and his family exemplify all it is to be a Spirit of Hinton Honoree.”
Meador and his wife of 21 years, Megan, have three children, Trent, Liv and Marlee and live in Nimitz. His parents are Gary and Terri Meador. Meador is a Summers County High School graduate, a graduate of The College of West Virginia in 2001 and earned a masters of communication from WVU in 2006.
Meador enjoys coaching, fishing, spending time with family, WVU sporting events and watching live music. He has been employed by the Summers County Health Department for 19 years.
“Please join us in honoring Chad Meador as our 2020 Spirit of Hinton Honoree,” Scott said.
In response to this honor, Meador said, “At first I felt shocked, but once I thought about it… I am humbled.”
Congratulations from a grateful community, Chad.
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