Board Member Spotlight
Howard Kruse
Scott & White Healthcare Board of Trustees
President Emeritus, Blue Bell Creameries, L.P.
MAKING ICE CREAM,
AND A BIG DIFFERENCE
It’s
interesting to think what ice
cream and healthcare have
in common. Scott & White
Healthcare and Blue Bell Creameries share
a century of history in Central Texas, as
well as long-standing commitments to
quality, especially during periods of change
and growth.
I recently retired as president of Blue
Bell Creameries, a position previously held
by my brother and by our father. When I
was 11 years old, I worked there for my
dad, making 10 cents an hour. To make the
finest ice cream, you have to have premium
ingredients because anything less relegates
it to the lowest level. Most Texans know
Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla, the bestselling vanilla ice cream in the country—
even though Blue Bell is sold in only 19
states. That’s what quality does for you. It’s
the same thing in healthcare. You don’t take
shortcuts. You give that patient the time
and quality of care that he or she needs
from you.
We were a small company when I came
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THE CATALYST Spring 11 | www.sw.org
back to Blue Bell from Texas A&M
University in 1952 and when I returned
from the Korean War in 1954. We served a
60-mile area of Brenham, with 30 to 40
employees. We didn’t have the means to do
a lot for our people then, but we’ve always
been fair and taken care of their needs. My
parents always said to tell the truth and you
can walk any sidewalk in America and hold
your head up high—your people will have a
tremendous amount of trust in you if you
always tell the truth.
Early connections
to Scott & White
My parents received care at Scott & White
in the 1930s and 1940s. Our Brenham
hospital always had that connection, and
referred people there when needed. It’s nice
to see Trinity Medical Center here officially
become part of Scott & White.
In 1969 I had my first annual physical
at Scott & White. I’ve been bac