The history of the Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital dates back to February 4, 1946, when R.R. Wilson, a Grant County pioneer, offered $100,000 to build a hospital, in a letter to the Board of County Commissioners. 

In March, 1946, the County Commissioners appointed a Board of Hospital Trustees.  In April that same year, Dr. and Mrs. George Coffey donated a city block on North Main as a hospital site, and the Trustees retained architects. 

In October, 1948, petitions were prepared calling for a special election to vote a $100,000 bond issue for the hospital, but by November of 1948, the Trustees found the $200,000 would not be adequate to build a hospital.  A citizen campaign began to raise additional funds.  The first big donation was received in September of 1948, when Columbian Carbon Company pledged $5,000 for a hospital fund, and an amateur show raised additional money.  The fund drive for the hospital was kicked off in December, 1948, when 50 people met at the Crocker Theater.  The group began to drive to raise $100,000, and pledges totaled $36,000 by the end of the first week.  Other donations followed. 

In August, 1949, a construction company from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which had been awarded a $227,088 contract for constructing the hospital, began the work.  When the bond issue was actually prepared, the amount was reduced from $100,000 to $50,000 with the money to be used to complete and equip the hospital. 

In June of 1950, the County Commissioners leased the hospital to the Sisters of St. Joseph with headquarters in Wichita. 

In January of 1951, the open house and dedication was held.  A new addition which increased the number of beds from 24 to 37 was approved in 1956, and was opened the following January.  By 1960, the hospital was serving an area extending as far as Springfield, Colorado. 

By August, 1961, the hospital had expanded to a staff of 42 employees, having started with 12 employees in 1951.  But the patient load had expanded to the point of overcrowding by the beginning of 1965.  The second week of February, of that year, there were 48 patients including babies in the 37 bed facility, with over 100 admissions a month.  Discussion began for expanding the hospital at about that time.  There was some question of whether or not the county had the authority to float another bond issue at that time.  But Bob Wilson’s estate provided a surprise, by granting a further legacy of $25,937.15 to be used for building. 

In 1970, there was another major expansion in the hospital.  The Mennonite Board of Missions took over the administration in August of 1967.  The hospital went to 53 beds in 1970, along with added surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, emergency room and office facilities.  Some minor renovation has been done since that time.

February 4, 1946 - R.R. (Bob) Wilson, a Grant County pioneer, wrote a letter to the board of County Commissioners offering $100,000 to build a hospital.

March-April, 1946 - A Board of Hospital Trustees was appointed by the County Commissioners.  Dr. and Mrs. George Coffey donated a city block on North Main as a hospital site.

November, 1947 - There was a resolution by County Commissioners to build the hospital.  At that time Dr. Brewer was the only physician in Ulysses.

August 1949 - Construction company from Oklahoma City, OK began work on the county’s hospital.

June 1950  - County Commissioners leased the hospital to the Sisters of St. Joseph, headquartered in Wichita.

January 1951 - Sister Bernice along with one other Sister arrived in Ulysses to open the hospital.

February 4, 1951 - Bob Wilson Hospital held its open house and dedication.  The Staff consisted of two Sisters and 12 other employees with 27 operational beds.

1957 - 10 beds added.

1961 - Staff now numbered 42.

August 1967 - Mennonite Board of Missions took over the lease.

1970 - Major expansion of hospital; addition created 53 acute beds and 7 bassinets in nursery; surgery; pharmacy; laboratory; emergency room.  Office facilities also expanded.

1986 - Grant County took over operations.  The hospital opted out of Social Security.

N/A - The number of licensed beds was reduced to 46.

January 1995 - Senior pathways, the Geriatric Psychiatry unit of the hospital officially opened with 10 operational beds.

March 1995  - Quorum Health Resources became the management company for the hospital.