John F. Bookout Auditorium Dedication

On April 23, 2014, the Houston Methodist Research Institute auditorium was renamed the John F. Bookout Auditorium in honor of a great leader who has guided Houston Methodist on its ascent as a world-class academic and medical center.

As a true Houston stalwart, Mr. Bookout has not only helped make this city the energy capital of the world, but also generously gives of his time and talent to further the mission of Houston Methodist. He joined the board in 1979 and served as its chair from 1991 to 2007. Today, he continues as senior chairman. During his long tenure as chair, he has led this institution through prosperity and adversity, eventually reshaping our culture and helping establish our I CARE values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence as the cornerstone for the work we do on a daily basis.

Mr. Bookout’s steady hand at the wheel has guided us through negotiations that led to an affiliation between Houston Methodist, Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital 10 years ago. It is fitting that the research institute’s auditorium will now bear his name, as Mr. Bookout was vital to founding the Houston Methodist Research Institute, which is now a center for innovation, discovery and translation.

During the last 36 years, Mr. Bookout has played a role in everything that Houston Methodist has accomplished. He has also helped build a strong foundation for everything that we will accomplish in the future.