A year from now, James Wente ("Jim" to his friends and "Mr. Wente" to many hospital associates) will be winding down the special send-off events befitting the retirement of someone who has devoted most of his professional career to the betterment and expansion of one of Cape Girardeau's major institutions, Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Wente recently announced his plans to retire as president and chief executive officer of the hospital at the end of July next year. He will stay on another year as CEO emeritus to assist the board and new administrator. In the next 12 months, the hospital board will conduct a nationwide search for a new CEO.

When Wente joined Southeast Missouri Hospital in 1975 as assistant administrator and chief financial officer, he already was familiar with the hospital and its operating philosophy because of his affiliation with an accounting firm that worked with Southeast. Wente is a certified public accountant.

In 1988 Wente became the hospital's associate administrator and took over the top job in 1991. Since 1991, the hospital has established a nursing college, added more than a thousand employees and completed 10 major expansions, plus Sunday's announcement that the hospital will build a $33 million cancer center on is West Campus near Interstate 55.

Under Wente's guiding hand, there have been many other significant accomplishments at Southeast Missouri Hospital, but he will long be remembered for his unwavering focus on ensuring the highest level of care, both for patients and for hospital employees. We wish Jim Wente the best as he finds new ways to use his many talents and cater to his many interests.