The Richardson family roots run deep in Cleburne – and in Texas Health Resources. Four generations of Debbie Richardson’s family live in Cleburne, while she and two of her three sons and a daughter-in-law work for Texas Health.
“We all love Texas Health,” said daughter-in-law Shannie, a registered nurse at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. “Everyone here is like family, and I plan to be with Texas Health until I retire.”
Oldest son Kurt was the first Richardson to join Texas Health – in 2010 – eventually becoming the Information Technology (IT) site lead for Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne. It wasn’t long before he recruited his mom to join the hospital.
“He told me, ‘Mom, I heard of a perfect job for you, and this is the best place to work,’” Debbie said.
She joined the hospital as a materials management tech in 2014.
“The Richardson family has been a blessing to Texas Health Cleburne for more than a decade,” said Christopher Leu, president, Texas Health Cleburne. “Their commitment to each other and to their co-workers embodies Individuals Caring For Individuals, Together.”
Youngest son Kolby joined Texas Health the next year, serving in Materials Management at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth. He used the organization’s tuition reimbursement program to earn his computer science degree and joined the IT department.
“Every role I’ve had with Texas Health has been great,” Kolby said.
The two brothers have even crossed paths in their careers, with both of them working in IT roles at Texas Health Southwest at different times. Kolby moved out of his role as an IT project specialist at Texas Health Southwest (and Texas Health Fort Worth), and then Kurt transferred over to become the IT manager at the hospital.
“When I came into that new role, people were like, ‘Wait, do you know Kolby?’” Kurt said.
Kurt currently serves as IT director for Texas Health Cleburne, Texas Health Southwest and Clearfork, and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville. Kolby is an IT project manager in the system IT project management office.
Shannie, who currently works as a nurse in the pre-admission testing unit at Texas Health Fort Worth, is married to Debbie’s middle son, Bryce. She started at Texas Health Cleburne after graduating from Texas Health’s Youth Prodigy Program in 2011.
“The first time I met Bryce, I told him I worked at Texas Health Cleburne, and his eyes lit up,” she said. “’My mom and brother work there!’ he said. “And, of course, I knew them both.”
The Richardson family roots at Texas Health also include Debbie’s cousin Rhonda Ray, who recently retired as IT manager for Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. She and Kurt attended the same meetings.
“It was wild how she used to babysit me, and then there we were sitting in meetings together,” Kurt said.
Although you might think Richardson family gatherings would include some Texas Health talk, Debbie says they keep it at bay.
“We try to have a no-talking-about-work policy when we’re all together,” she said.
And what about Bryce? Would he eventually join Texas Health to complete the Richardson family’s ties?
“We almost recruited him several years ago but had no luck,” Debbie said.
Shannie thinks there’s a sliver of hope.
“You never know,” she said.
