A big vision with an even bigger heart

“This is an individual that exhibits and lives family values, hard work, commitment to your community and a commitment to each other,” Ness said.

As he presented the Visionary Leadership Award to McIntire during a ceremony Wednesday evening, he read aloud some of the words on the plaque.

“As a community leader and a loyal advocate for expanding health care services to meet the community’s growing needs, Mr. McIntire was a major benefactor of Kootenai Health’s heart center in 2004 and its family birth center in 2014,” Ness read to the room. “Ron McIntire is known as a gentle, humble man. His selfless dedication to his family, his church and his community is a source of inspiration for all that know him.”

Every able-bodied person who attended Kootenai Health Foundation’s Celebration of Giving got on their feet, filling the Hagadone Event Center with a heartfelt peal of applause for McIntire and his family. Full story . Devin Heilman/CdaPress