Dr. Dohner Living Memorial
While the statue dedicated to Dr. Russell Dohner is new to the Rushville, Dr. Dohner is not. Dr. Dohner served Rushville in a truly remarkable way for over 50 years. Growing up on a farm in 15 miles from Rushville, Dr. Dohner had planned on becoming a farmer. After high school, he was drafted to join the U.S. Army during World War II. While serving, he ran a health clinic for his outfit where he was stationed. It was during this time that Dr. Dohner realized he wanted to and could become a doctor. After leaving the service, he headed toward Louisville with hopes of attending the University of Louisville to begin his first step in higher education. It was not long after Dr. Dohner arrived that he decided he did not like Louisville. He packed up and headed back to Illinois and started instead at Western Illinois University, a school in Macomb that had just recently begun a pre-med program. In 1950, he transferred to Northwestern Illinois University to attend the School of Medicine. Upon graduation, he had planned on staying in the Chicago area as a big-city doctor, but on a visit home he noticed a need for a doctor in Rushville and has been here ever since. In 1955, he set up his practice in a building on the north side of the square. He has been in the same location since. From the time Dr. Dohner opened his practice, did he did not take a day off until 2000, when he suffered from a heart-attack. His practice was open seven days a week and he made house calls. What makes him truly unique is the low price he charged. From 1955 until the 1970's, he charged $2 for a visit. It was in the 1970s that he raised he price to $5, a price that would remain until his retirement. He did not accept insurance and if a patient could not come up with $5, Dr. Dohner would find a way to make it work. In 2013, at the age of 88, Dr. Dohner decided it was time to retire and still resides in Rushville. The living memorial in Rushville's Central Park was proposed in 2013 and completed in 2014. It is a bronze statue of Dr. Dohner with a child holding a stethoscope to his chest, as seen in the picture above. It is there to commemorate his many years of service and dedication to the people of Rushville. The plaque next to the memorial reads: "From the thousands of your friends and family of Rushville, Illinois and its surrounding area, we dedicate this living memorial to you, our own Dr. Russell R. Dohner for the many years of love and dedication as both a distinguished physician and as one of our finest citizens. We place this statue in Rushville Central Park, as a focus of our downtown community to which you have contributed so much over the years. This sculpture will forever represent our heartfelt appreciation for you and your commitment to those you have selflessly served. On behalf of the many people you have brought into our world, nurtured, and cared for, we wish you God's blessings. We thank you for who you are and what you have provided to our community. With Deep Appreciation, Your Friends, Family, and Surrounding Community." |
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