Dr. William W. Barnes Retirement Celebration - Thursday, April 7, 2022

Dr. William Barnes, Retirement Celebration

Thursday, April 7, 2022, 4:30-6 p.m.

Belvidere Mansion, 121 N. Chickasaw Avenue, Claremore, Oklahoma

Dr. William Barnes, pediatrician in Claremore for 49 years, is retiring soon. To honor him, the Rogers County Historical Society and the William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center are hosting a retirement celebration on Thursday, April 7^th, from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Belvidere Mansion. You are invited to join us.

Dr. Barnes began his medical career serving at the Claremore Indian Hospital for 5 years. He was also medical director of the emergency department in the Claremore hospital (now Hillcrest Hospital Claremore) from 1978 through 1996. As a beloved pediatrician, his medical practice has continued long enough that he now sees the children of the children he cared for decades ago!

Dr. Barnes won the Klingberg Faculty Award for excellence in pediatric teaching from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, where he was volunteer faculty and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics for many years. He continues to serve on the Rogers County Board of Health, was President of the Board of Directors for the Rogers County Drug Abuse Program, and was Medical Director of the Rogers State University’s Paramedic Education Program from 1989-1998. He also served on 16 medical mission trips to Nicaragua with his wife and sons.

Dr. Barnes served as Chair of the Belvidere Restoration Committee of the Rogers County Historical Society from 1991 to 1995. He worked closely with Wanda Moore to save the Belvidere from demolition and then provided time, labor, and monetary assistance to restore this historic mansion and the grounds around it. His wife, Marsha, worked with him on this project. Without their assistance, the Belvidere might have been lost and would not be part of Claremore’s iconic skyline!

Dr. Barnes worked with social workers from the Department of Human Services, with law enforcement, and with the District Attorney’s office as the certified Child Abuse Medical Examiner to hold abusers responsible for the harm done to the children of our community. Because of his efforts to protect children, the William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center was named in his honor. The Center offers a multi-disciplinary approach to investigating allegations of child abuse, providing a comfortable space for children and non-offending parents, in which a child participates in a forensic interview and mental health counseling when needed.

Rogers County Historical Society and the William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center are grateful for the assistance and guidance Dr. Barnes has provided. Please join us to thank him for all he has done for our community on April 7^th, at the Belvidere Mansion, 121 N. Chickasaw, from 4:30-6 p.m. This is a come and go event and families are welcome.

Those wishing to honor him may make a donation to either or both sponsoring organizations at this event or on their websites: rchs1.org or cacclaremore.org.