Grace Community Healthcare Ministry in Mineola celebrated Dr. Mark Race and his 20 years as medical director with an anniversary party Friday, Oct. 2.

Family, friends and community members gathered at the ministry’s North Pacific Street location to recognize Race and his years with the organization.

Race has served as medical director of Grace Community Healthcare Ministry since July 2006.

Raised in Dallas, Race grew up surrounded by medicine. Both of his parents were physicians, and all of his siblings also became doctors.

Race graduated Greenhill School and later attended college in Colorado and Commerce before earning a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. He went on to attend the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he served as chief resident.

His medical career eventually brought him to East Texas. Race helped establish the Rehabilitation Hospital at what was then East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

As the first physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Tyler, he helped develop rehabilitation services in the area. After several years at ETMC, Race entered private years from practice and later provided contract services for HealthSouth and Encompass.

Race’s work has also taken him outside East Texas. He has participated in medical mission trips to Belize, Pakistan, China and other countries.

Now semi-retired, Race spends more time on some of his other interests. He and his wife, Deborah, first met when they were students at Highland Park Junior High.

Race has played in several bands over the years and still enjoys playing piano. He especially enjoys blues music and has taken several blues music cruises. He also has a jazz cruise planned.

Race and his wife live in Mineola, where he enjoys growing tomatoes and gardening in the arboretum he built.

Race said he is thankful for the volunteers, past and present, who have helped make the ministry possible. Some have died, moved or resigned over the years, but he said they have all been fantastic people who gave their time and helped make it possible for him to spend 20 years doing something he loves.

“I’ve loved going to work and loved being able to help people,” Dr. Race said.

Race also recognized a number of people for their contributions to the ministry, including board members; Barbara Prather, who founded the clinic; former lab director Loy Fraiser; current lab director Shirley Barnett; Executive Director Susan Roach; nurse practitioner Darlene Haggerton; Dr. Margaret Hayden; and local churches that have supported the ministry over the years.

Grace Community Healthcare serves adults 18 and older who have no insurance or are underinsured. Services include office visits, laboratory services and medication assistance.

The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Lab services and clinic visits are available by appointment Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Visits start at $18, depending on the services needed.

Patients must prequalify for services. Applications can be picked up during business hours, and applicants must provide their most recent tax return or last two pay stubs. Grace Community Healthcare began in the basement of First Methodist Church of Mineola in 2006, across from its current location.

In 2007, the ministry moved into the McReynolds house, built in 1907. An anonymous benefactor purchased the property and donated it to Grace Community Healthcare Ministry.

The ministry accepts monetary donations and volunteer services. Medical professionals can volunteer at the clinic, and other volunteers help with data entry, clerical work, building and grounds maintenance, translation and prayer support.