Cliff Enyart was a typical Appalachian man—likable, strong, and good with his hands. He could do anything from motor repair to laying concrete. Born in 1930, Cliff quit high school, altered his birth certificate to make himself a year older, and served three years in the Army. When he came home to Ashland, he was hired at Armco Steel but soon left his job to join the Air Force.
Four years later, he returned to his job at Armco and married Greenup Countian Mildred Veach on December 3, 1954. He was successful at his job in Armco’s electrical shop, and he and Mildred enjoyed a happy and prosperous marriage.
On May 25, 1951, the four girls said goodbye to a large contingent of family and friends who had gathered to see them off. They boardedThirty years later, on a Friday afternoon in April 1985, Cliff began experiencing chest pains at work. He came home, and Mildred immediately took him to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. He had just had blood tests, and a nurse was returning with the results when she encountered Dr. Charles Rhodes. He studied Cliff’s blood work and then examined him and discovered that he had suffered a heart attack. Afterwards, Dr. Rhodes talked to Mildred in the hall and discussed streptokinase, a new clot buster that was available. Mildred deferred that decision to Cliff. After learning the severity of his situation, Cliff agreed for Dr. Rhodes to administer the clot busting medication in a room in the intensive care unit. Cliff recovered in less than two hours and was back home in a few days. Dr. Rhodes had saved his life, and Cliff Enyart lived another 14 years.
When people in the tri-state area say, “Dr. Rhodes,” you can hear respect and reverence in their voices. Hundreds of people, myself included, are alive today because of his excellent care and thousands more are leading happier and more productive lives because of the preventive care he provides.
After completing his medical training at Duke, Dr. Rhodes answered an advertisement by a Fortune 500 company, and he soon accepted Ashland Oil’s offer to move to Ashland and serve as associate corporate medical director. From 1979 to 1983, he cared for a wide range of employees—from corporate leaders to refinery workers.
Dr. Rhodes responded to constant community requests by entering private practice in 1983 along with another Duke University medical resident, the late Dr. Michael Ehrie. “That’s been my career ever since,” he reflected.
Rhodes became an important part of the community. “The area is home to me now,” he declared.
As the years passed, he became actively involved in the social, economic, and educational life of his new home. For example, in 1990 he sponsored the reprint of Jesse Stuart’s book, “The Year of My Rebirth,” Stuart’s well-known story of his recovery from a 1954 heart attack. It was a perfect match: a great cardiologist sponsoring the republication of a book about a famous author’s recovery from a near-fatal heart attack. Dr. Rhodes’s support of this project reflected his strong personal commitment to literacy and learning.
Today, Rhodes puts in long and tiring workdays. He sees about 30 patients per day in his office across the street from the main entrance of the former Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.
Rhodes’s career now focuses less on invasive procedures and more on preventive cardiology care. “I’m very interested in preventing heart disease by encouraging a therapeutic lifestyle,” he said. He encourages his patients to keep their cholesterol low and their weight down, to restrict saturated fat, to exercise moderately, and to keep stress at a minimum.
Numerous awards and recognitions are an index to his significant contributions to the quality of life in the tri-state area
Dr. Rhodes’s success results from excellent training and experience, hard work, and a true commitment to his patients and his community. But there is another intangible factor that propels his greatness. It’s hard to define but easy to recognize. It’s personality. He befriends patients of all ages.
Today, in his late 70s, he continues to practice medicine with enthusiasm and true concern for his patients. He is a great role model for the community
Dr. Rhodes has no immediate plans for retirement. “I’m fit and I love what I do,” he said. “And I love my patients—who honestly are my friends—and I am going to be here for them as long as I am able.”
A much expanded version of this story is one of 30 in the recently published “Hidden Heroes of Greenup County” available in the JSF Bookstore, 4440 13th Street in Ashland or by calling 606-326-1667.
By James M. Gifford
JSF CEO & Senior Editor
Cliff Enyart was a typical Appalachian man—likable, strong, and good with his hands. He could do anything from motor repair to laying concrete. Born in 1930, Cliff quit high school, altered his birth certificate to make himself a year older, and served three years in the Army. When he came home to Ashland, he was hired at Armco Steel but soon left his job to join the Air Force.
Four years later, he returned to his job at Armco and married Greenup Countian Mildred Veach on December 3, 1954. He was successful at his job in Armco’s electrical shop, and he and Mildred enjoyed a happy and prosperous marriage.
On May 25, 1951, the four girls said goodbye to a large contingent of family and friends who had gathered to see them off. They boardedThirty years later, on a Friday afternoon in April 1985, Cliff began experiencing chest pains at work. He came home, and Mildred immediately took him to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. He had just had blood tests, and a nurse was returning with the results when she encountered Dr. Charles Rhodes. He studied Cliff’s blood work and then examined him and discovered that he had suffered a heart attack. Afterwards, Dr. Rhodes talked to Mildred in the hall and discussed streptokinase, a new clot buster that was available. Mildred deferred that decision to Cliff. After learning the severity of his situation, Cliff agreed for Dr. Rhodes to administer the clot busting medication in a room in the intensive care unit. Cliff recovered in less than two hours and was back home in a few days. Dr. Rhodes had saved his life, and Cliff Enyart lived another 14 years.
When people in the tri-state area say, “Dr. Rhodes,” you can hear respect and reverence in their voices. Hundreds of people, myself included, are alive today because of his excellent care and thousands more are leading happier and more productive lives because of the preventive care he provides.
After completing his medical training at Duke, Dr. Rhodes answered an advertisement by a Fortune 500 company, and he soon accepted Ashland Oil’s offer to move to Ashland and serve as associate corporate medical director. From 1979 to 1983, he cared for a wide range of employees—from corporate leaders to refinery workers.
Dr. Rhodes responded to constant community requests by entering private practice in 1983 along with another Duke University medical resident, the late Dr. Michael Ehrie. “That’s been my career ever since,” he reflected.
Rhodes became an important part of the community. “The area is home to me now,” he declared.
As the years passed, he became actively involved in the social, economic, and educational life of his new home. For example, in 1990 he sponsored the reprint of Jesse Stuart’s book, “The Year of My Rebirth,” Stuart’s well-known story of his recovery from a 1954 heart attack. It was a perfect match: a great cardiologist sponsoring the republication of a book about a famous author’s recovery from a near-fatal heart attack. Dr. Rhodes’s support of this project reflected his strong personal commitment to literacy and learning.
Today, Rhodes puts in long and tiring workdays. He sees about 30 patients per day in his office across the street from the main entrance of the former Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.
Rhodes’s career now focuses less on invasive procedures and more on preventive cardiology care. “I’m very interested in preventing heart disease by encouraging a therapeutic lifestyle,” he said. He encourages his patients to keep their cholesterol low and their weight down, to restrict saturated fat, to exercise moderately, and to keep stress at a minimum.
Numerous awards and recognitions are an index to his significant contributions to the quality of life in the tri-state area
Dr. Rhodes’s success results from excellent training and experience, hard work, and a true commitment to his patients and his community. But there is another intangible factor that propels his greatness. It’s hard to define but easy to recognize. It’s personality. He befriends patients of all ages.
Today, in his late 70s, he continues to practice medicine with enthusiasm and true concern for his patients. He is a great role model for the community
Dr. Rhodes has no immediate plans for retirement. “I’m fit and I love what I do,” he said. “And I love my patients—who honestly are my friends—and I am going to be here for them as long as I am able.”
A much expanded version of this story is one of 30 in the recently published “Hidden Heroes of Greenup County” available in the JSF Bookstore, 4440 13th Street in Ashland or by calling 606-326-1667.ng our website at jsfbooks.com.
By James M. Gifford
JSF CEO & Senior Editor
