Publishers Note: It was in the early 1990’s that I first met Dr. Joseph Still and his daughter, Susan in Augusta. I was a reporter at News 12 and I especially remember Susan being honored at Augusta’s new Amphitheater at the Riverwalk and addressing school children on the importance of dreaming. She was dressed in her astronaut suit, after having flown on the Space Shuttle.
She was humble, like her Daddy.
Last Thursday night, Susan delivered another keynote address, this time, honoring the life and legacy of her iconic father.
Susan Still Kilrain, along with some of her siblings, accepted the prestigious 2024 Lester S. Moody Award of Excellence on behalf of the late Joseph M. Still at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 115th Annual Meeting at the Augusta Marriott and Convention Center.
According to a news release, this year’s honoree, Dr. Joseph M. Still, founder of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, teamed up with Doctors Hospital in 1978 to build one of the world’s leading treatment facilities for burn victims. Dr. Still founded the Burn Foundation of America, formerly known as Southeastern Firefighters’ Burn Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization devoted to helping burn patients and their families with non-medical necessities. The foundation operates the Jeffery Vaden Chavis House, a long-time dream of Dr. Still’s, which is a place for people to stay while their family members are in the burn center.
He dedicated his career to improvements in the treatment of burn patients.
At the podium, Ms. Still Kilrain tied together both of their worlds.
“He was one of the most generous men I have ever met. When we flew in space the second time, instead of bringing the family down for the VIP treatment…he brought down his burn victims and their families,” she said.
Sue Parr became President of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2005 and prepared for the organization’s 100th Anniversary celebration.
The Lester S. Moody Award of Excellence was born in 2008. It honored the memory of Lester Moody, who is credited with much of the Augusta area’s economic foundation. He worked for the Chamber for 38 years.
Periodically, the Chamber chooses a person who follows in the footsteps of Lester Moody, who has also significantly contributed to our community and dedicates their lifetime of achievement with this award.
This year was the first time in seven years this award has been presented, the last time being awarded to Don Grantham in 2017.
According to the news release, “Dr. Still was a giant of a man, with a heart to match his size. He was a visionary, seeing the bigger picture that most could not see. Determined, generous, compassionate, hard-working, risk-taking, and problem-solving only begin to describe this friend and family man who affected the lives of thousands—and was loved by just as many.”
When Susan was talking about her book, “If I can become an astronaut, kids can become anything they want. It’s all about overcoming their obstacles, finding different ways to their goal if the first way doesn’t seem to be working out.”
Spoken like the daughter who learned lessons from the honoree of the 2024 Lester S. Moody Award of Excellence.
