Following a career that included co-founding Cullman Regional Medical Center, longtime Cullman physician Dr. Herman Ensor, 77, died early Saturday morning. During his career, Ensor delivered 4,238 babies in the Cullman area from 1975 – 2002. He retired two years ago.

Throughout the years, Ensor served as president of the Cullman Regional Medical Center medical staff and chairman of the board of directors. He also helped found the CRMC Foundation in 1977, which recently completed fundraising for a new $6.5 million emergency room.

Ensor was recruited to Cullman Hospital in 1975 and helped found the first OB/GYN practice in the area.

Larry Entrekin, a close friend of Ensor, said he was an amazing person and will be deeply missed.

“Dr. Ensor was one of the finest, sweetest and kindest men I’ve ever known,” he said. “We’ll miss him forever, because he’s just done so much good.”

Entrekin said Ensor always had a heart for the community of Cullman.

“He loved people and always tried to help people,” he said. “He gave the most love and care to everyone, and it never mattered whether they had money or not.

Ensor was also a major part of creating the current Cullman Regional Medical Center, Entrekin said.

“If it had not been for him, Dr. Davis and Dr. Peinhardt working so hard for Cullman Regional Medical Center, we wouldn’t have what we have today,” he said. “He tried to make it so the people here would have a number one hospital.”

Dr. Bill Peinhardt, a longtime colleague of Ensor, said he will miss the man just as much as he will the physician.

“Herman certainly was a dear friend and colleague of mine for the past 40 years,” he said. “I always respected him as a pioneer in helping the development of medical care in Cullman County. Medicine was the main part of his life.”

Local physician Dr. Jim Davis said he was originally recruited to the Cullman area by Ensor.

“I was one of his first recruits and he’d always tell me Cullman really needed a good urologist” he said with a laugh. “But, after he recruits you, he never stops being there for you … It’s a lot like losing your wing man.”

Davis said Ensor’s attitude and drive are some of the traits that made him so valuable.

“He was a voice of reason and he always kept me on an even keel,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine medicine in Cullman without Herman, but I have full confidence all of the things he set up will carry us through. People will always remember him for delivering so many babies, but what he’s done for the medical community here goes far beyond his specialty.”

Cullman Regional Medical Center President and CEO Jim Weidner said Ensor was a huge asset to the hospital.

“On behalf of the administration, all the employees of CRMC, and the board of directors we are deeply saddened by the loss of a great physician, medical staff leader and friend,” he said. “He was instrumental in relocating and building the new medical center at its existing location. He will remain in our minds and hearts forever and our condolences go out to the Ensor family.”

Arrangements are incomplete at this time, but are being handled by Moss Service Funeral Home. Check an upcoming edition of The Cullman Times for more information.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.