Terry Mackey is retiring as Arthur Center Community Health CEO after 26 years.

Since 1998, Mackey has worked tirelessly to build ACCH from the ground up and to ensure that the communities that serve the organization have access to the high quality healthcare services they need. Audrain Medical Center’s decision to divest their outpatient mental health clinics on April 1, 2002 led to the beginning of East Central Missouri Behavioral Health Services, d/b/a, Arthur Center.

Dan Erdel, attorney, was pivotal in preparing all of the legal paperwork and garnering local support to start the journey. Assets purchased from the hospital included two small buildings in Mexico, old office furniture, a few older vehicles and a rental agreement for a building in Fulton, all in need of repairs and renovations. Mackey’s vision then led the organization to apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand services to include primary care and dental for Audrain County.

Arthur Center Community Health began with that vision. Once the grant was approved, the organization received the designation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Under Mackey’s leadership and with many dedicated employees, the organization has grown from 70 employees to 170 employees and more to hire. The organization’s infrastructure includes construction of all new facilities: a 16-bed residential facility constructed in Mexico and opened in July 2015; a 25,000 square foot integrated health facility providing primary care, behavioral health and dental services in Mexico opened in February 2016; two 4-bed residential duplexes in Mexico opened in October 2018; a Community Services building in Mexico to assist with community based services opened in January 2020; expansion of the clinic in Mexico to add a separate pediatrics and women’s health wing opened in June 2022; a behavioral health clinic in Fulton opened in June 2018; a community services building in Fulton opened in November 2020; a mobile unit garage to house a medical mobile unit and a dental mobile unit opened in May 2021; pharmacy modifications to add a medication packaging machine and open an in-house pharmacy in December 2023; and an 11,000 square foot integrated health facility providing primary care, behavioral health and dental services and includes space for community services staff in Montgomery City opened in February 2024.

Mackey’s last day as CEO of Arthur Center will be July 14. A reception will be held from 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. on July 10 at the Audrain County 4-H Building at 21509 Highway D in Mexico.