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LOUDON, Tenn. (WATE) — It’s a
day of mixed emotions for a popular pediatrician in Loudon County.
Dr. Bud Guider is stepping down after 40 years.
Judging by the outpouring on
social media and his community, he’ll be missed. His staff held a
virtual retirement party Friday. All were wearing special T-shirts
with the codes he lives by; things like “believe” and “be humble.”
It was the summer of 1980 when
a young Dr. Guider was featured in the local newspaper. He was just
starting out at the new Loudon Pediatric Clinic where he stayed for
40 years, devoting his life’s work to caring for children. The
decision to step down was not an easy one.
“It’s a bittersweet time for
me, ” Guider told us via FaceTime. “But I know it’s time. It’s the
right decision for me at this time.”
He’s been known to dress up as
the Easter bunny and Willie Nelson; always taking part in staff
parties, willing to step into all kinds of crazy costumes to bring a
smile to many faces.
“Most of those were Halloween
pictures probably, ” he laughs, “but you know, I love my patients. I
love my families. I’ve learned a lot more from them than they have
me over the years. That’s for sure, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Fun, with a good dose of faith
as Dr.Guider was known for his daily prayers.
“Just asked God for guidance,
ability, wisdom, knowledge, skill, compassion, and to treat
everybody the same regardless of who they are or what their
background is. Don’t judge people. It’s not our place to judge.
That’s God’s place. And, know my limitations,” Dr. Guider says.
And while he decided to retire
long before COVID-19 hit, Dr. Guider wants to leave us with these
words of wisdom about the crisis.
“I don’t think we ought to
fear this pandemic, but I certainly think we need to respect it
because it’s a real thing.”
He went on to say we should
love our neighbors and follow CDC guidelines, including wearing a
mask, saying “it’s the least we can do.”
Loudon County Mayor Buddy
Bradshaw is declared Saturday, Aug. 1, as “Dr. Bud Guider Day.”
Our thanks to him for his
years of service to children and to his community.
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