Willie Warren worked for NRH coordinating volunteers for 22 years. He used to be a plumber until he was in his mid-30’s. Then one day he severely injured his knee on the job and was told by his doctors that he would never walk again. He eventually came to do his inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation at NRH and he never left.

He first met Dr. Robert Bunning when he was a patient here in June 1987 and at the end of his stayed around to help the arthritis support group. Willie then continued to make a name for himself in the NRH community by starting the volunteer program. He organized movie and bingo night and soon enough, Willie was a regular presence at NRH volunteering up to 60 hours a week. Willie transformed the NRH volunteer program over the years and really can be credited with providing NRH with the successful program it still has today. When the flood happened in 2001, NRH still needed volunteers so Willie ran the program from the backseat of his car.

Two days after he retired in 1999, Warren came back to be the volunteer coordinator on a regular basis and stayed for another 10 years. Willie continued to battle health problems and Dr. Bunning referred him to a specialist who looked at his knees and determined they needed to be replaced. He was very grateful for that and says his knees feel a whole lot better because of it. Willie is a true example of dedication and he gave his all to NRH.

Today, Willie spends his retired days relaxing and visiting with family. He continues to make regular appearances at NRH to visit with all his old Team Members.