Baptist Retirement Community Celebrates 70 Years in San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX – On Thursday, the Baptist Retirement Community celebrated 70 years of being part of the San Angelo community.

The San Angelo staple first opened its doors in 1951 as the Baptist Memorials Geriatric Hospital and was founded by Elsie Gayer. Gayer worked as an administrator at the hospital until 1968.

In 2018, a plaque honoring Gayer was unveiled to dedicate the Elsie Gayer Chapel.

“Being able to celebrate 70 years of serving senior adults in San Angelo is even more special after last year,” said Aaron Hargett, who has served as the community’s executive director since 2017. “We overcame so much together, and we did it through faith, compassion, and perseverance.”

The retirement community is home to more than 500 senior adults in its independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing residences.

The partly featured lunch, live entertainment, and tours of the historic campus -- including the recently renovated Henley-Mabee High Rise.

The $8.4 million renovation project was completed last year on the 21,000 square feet of amenity spaces within the high rise.

The renovation transformed the building’s main lobby and dining spaces to improve efficiencies, enhance wayfinding and create elevated environments where residents can socialize and connect.

“I like to think of today’s party as a reawakening for Baptist Retirement Community. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our history and our future and to finally showcase the beautiful renovations made to the campus, especially our high-rise,” said Hargett.