Bogalusa doctor is Citizen of Year

A Bogalusa doctor has been named the 2008 Citizen of the Year for the eastern side of Washington Parish.

Dr. Whit Gallaspy, the head doctor at the OB/GYN unit at LSU Bogalusa Medical Center, was voted last year’s most outstanding citizen on Monday during a meeting at The Daily News office.

He is the 50th person to receive the award, which is chosen through a vote of previous honorees. Nominees for the award are chosen by the public.

After electing Gallaspy Monday evening, about a dozen of the previous winners proceeded to the doctor’s house in Bogalusa to inform him of the honor.

He was surprised at the visit and still in his hospital uniform when approached by the group. When told of the honor, Gallaspy was humbled, and said others were more deserving.

“I don’t know what to say except I don’t deserve it,” he said.

But the election committee saw otherwise, and chose Gallaspy from eight nominees during a meeting that lasted about an hour. The local doctor did have a big year in 2008, which included a deployment to Afghanistan and the opening of local hospital’s OB/GYN or “Special Beginnings” unit after a 10-year hiatus.

Gallaspy, at lieutenant colonel with the Louisiana National Guard served with the New York National Guard from July through October last year in the Middle East.

“There’s a real shortage of doctors, so they pull doctors from other states,” Gallaspy said. It was his second tour of duty to that part of the world, having deployed with Louisiana National Guard to Iraq in 2004.

The doctor attributed a great staff at LSU BMC for his success there and the blossoming of the new OB/GYN unit.

Gallaspy is also working with city officials to construct a new recreation area at Lake Vista near Ponemah Cemetery were folks, young and old, can easily fish or enjoy nature.

Gallaspy’s wife, Stacy, described him as a family man who works a lot.

But local doctor is quick to pass the credit.

“I couldn’t do any of it without my wife,” he said. The couple has four children: Connor, 12, Caitlyn, 12, Marianna, 9, and Molly, 3.

Both of Gallaspy’s parents are previous Citizen of Year winners �” John Gallaspy in 1965 and Dixie Gallaspy in 1982. Both were on hand to see their son named the 2008 winner.

“I’m just immensely proud of him,” said John Gallaspy, a Bogalusa attorney. “He has a lifelong history of service to other people.”

A meet and greet reception for Gallaspy has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bogalusa Country Club. The public is invited, and Gallaspy will receive a medal for his accomplishment.