One of Purcell’s Favorite Sons was honored Monday afternoon at Norman Regional Hospital.

Dr. Rick McCurdy, a 1961 graduate of Purcell High School, has served the Purcell and Norman area as a surgeon for 49 years.

Monday afternoon the surgical services area at Norman Regional, 3300 HealthPlex Parkway, was named after him.

The naming of the area comes on the 80th anniversary of the hospital.

“Dr. McCurdy is not only a one-of-a-kind surgeon, he is also an amazing person. The medical staff knew we wanted to honor him in a way that would be special,” said Aaron L. Boyd, MD, President and CEO of Norman Regional Health System.

Norman Regional physicians raised the money to install a large, lit sign in the hospital’s Surgical Services waiting area. Now this area serves as a reminder to patients and staff of the compassion and commitment of Dr. McCurdy.

The McCurdy family has been serving the people of Cleveland and McClain Counties for more than a century. Dr. McCurdy’s grandfather, William C. McCurdy, was a physician as well as his cousin Bill McCurdy.

Dr. McCurdy was an accomplished student athlete at Purcell High School where he was All-State in football and basketball, played baseball and ran track, where he still owns a share of the school record in the 800 meter dash.

At the University of Oklahoma, he played defensive end for the Sooners. The New York Jets selected Dr. McCurdy in the eighth round of the NFL draft, but he instead opted for a career in medicine.

Dr. McCurdy earned his medical degree and completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. McCurdy began work at Norman Regional Hospital (then Norman Municipal Hospital) in April 1977.

At Norman Regional, he is a member of the surgical practice of Oklahoma Surgical Associates. He specializes in general surgery.