The history of the Melham Medical Center began with a dream by the late Leo Mellam, who wanted for years to create a memorial in Broken Bow to his mother, whose strength and spirit guided her in raising three young sons after the death of her husband, Charles. In Mrs. Melham's declining years, arthritis left her an invalid. At that time, the community was served by the old Broken Bow Community Hospital, which the State Department of Health had ordered closed.
Mellam (he changed the spelling of his last name) invented the "piggyback" system for transferring tractor-trailer boxes onto railroad cars or cargo ships. Immediately upon his mother's death in 1970, he gave $500,000 and 10 acres of land for a new hospital, challenging the community to match his donation. Following a successful community fund raising campaign, the new hospital with attached nursing home was dedicated Nov. 5, 1972.
Since then, additions have included a medical clinic in 1973, assisted living complex and independent living apartments in 1980, a nursing home addition in 1987, the Leo L. and Laural D. Mellam Diagnostic Center in 1990 and a nursing home addition and remodeling project in 2000. A $3.6 million hospital expansion was completed in 2003.
Creating a modern medical center in a rural community was the dream that became a reality in 1972. The staff continues to carry that dream into the future, guided by the motto, "Large enough to serve, small enough to care."
