Bessemer Carraway Medical Center was first known as Memorial Hospital of Bessemer, opening its doors on Sept. 8, 1964. It was then owned and operated by the city.
Dr. Ben Carraway, then chairman of the board of directors, made a proposal to the city fathers which was accepted and the name was changed to Bessemer Carraway Medical Center on Nov. 1, 1973.
Dr. Carraway was chairman until his death, and today, his son, Dr. Robert Carraway, serves as the chairman of the board of directors, which comprises community leaders in a privately owned, nonprofit facility.
With an operating budget of $90 million, the hospital has expanded through the years as the needs of the community have increased. A 115-bed facility when it opened 38 years ago, it now has a 300-bed capacity with 1,200 employees, making it the city of Bessemer's largest employer.
