Twenty-eight associates from Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville were honored at a dinner held at the Beeville Community Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Associates received awards for five, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of continuous service at Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville.

Lina Amador was recognized for her 20 years of service in the Health Information Management Department (HIS). She has a job that requires a lot of concentration and attention to detail. Lina says she is very proud to work for Christus Spohn and she hopes to continue her service for another 20 years. She considers her co-workers to be her second family.

Honored for 25 years of service were Juan Solis and Maria Rodriguez. Both joined the staff in Nutrition Services when the hospital was operated by the Seventh-day Adventists. Meals were vegetarian and they baked bread daily. Juan is head cook — during his tenure he has cooked thousands of meals for patients, doctors and staff. Juan was honored as an Associate of the Year in 2004. Juan doesn’t take much time off from work, except during dove season. He always puts in two requests for time off — one to go to the valley for the weekend, and another request for time off to hunt in Beeville.

Maria Rodriguez is the hospital’s catering cook. She is the queen of the kitchen; if there is special meal prepared for an event or physician gathering — then Maria is in charge. She has been responsible for all the great events catered by the hospital like “Ladies Night Out” and “Best of Beeville,” in which the hospital received first place. Maria enjoys cooking and is never afraid to try new recipes. She recently took an “Oriental Cooking Class” and “Cake Decorating Class” at Coastal Bend College.

Juan and Maria are brother and sister and came to work at the hospital just weeks apart in 1983. All of the associates honored at the event received an award packet and a certificate of appreciation.

Jerry Rodriguez, vice president/chief operating officer, and Mari Cuellar, nurse executive of Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville, served as hosts for the evening.