BECKLEY, W.Va. – ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris and ARH Vice President of External Affairs Rocky Massey recognized retired Beckley ARH employee John Ellison Tuesday during a luncheon in the hospital gymnasium.

Massey, a former CEO at Beckley, thanked the 92-year-old for his years of work in the hospital’s Black Lung Lab where he assisted Dr. Donald Rasmussen in research that led to legislation and compensation for afflicted miners.

“John, that was important work, buddy,” Massey said. “You impacted miners like my dad and miners from across this nation. Your lab worked like family. I saw it and I witnessed it. You guys were close and it’s that kind of teamwork that still exists in ARH today. I can still see it in so many of our operations because of people like you.”

Ellison, who worked as both an EKG technician as well as a pulmonary lab technician during his four decades at Beckley ARH, said he was overwhelmed by the recognition.

“ARH was always good to me,” he said. “It was a great time in my life working here. I built wonderful relationships and met so many wonderful people. We need good people in our lives, and we certainly need a good hospital like this.

“I’m just honored and so thankful.”

Both Ellison and his wife Sally were employees at the hospital when it opened its doors in January 1956.

Harris recognized Sally, a New York native who traveled to Beckley with friends after seeing an ad for LPNs in a nursing magazine.

“She came with her girlfriends, met this handsome fella here and fell in love,” Harris said. “All of her girlfriends went back home to New York, but Sally stayed, and we’re so thankful for both of them.”

John and Sally Ellison have been married for 67 years and share two children, one grandchild, two step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.