Former City Council president David Harrell, a key member of the council during the early days of consolidation, died recently.
Harrell served on the council from 1970-1983 and was noted for his expertise in finance, insurance and health care.
Elected to the council in 1970 to represent District 11 on the Westside he later was an At-Large Member from 1975-1983. He was the first council member to serve two consecutive terms as president.
Former councilman Terry Wood, who was in the insurance business with Harrell for a while, said, “David was probably one of the brightest people to ever sit on the council.” Wood said Harrell got involved in pensions while selling insurance and to master the subject he studied and became an enrolled actuary, which Wood compared to getting a masters degree.
Harrell was a graduate of Paxon High School, Class of 1960, and served in the U.S. Army.
His daughter, former School Board member Lori Hershey, told Eye on Jacksonville that Harrell earned a Ph.D. in healthcare administration after serving on the council. After retiring he became an adjunct professor at Emory University and Georgia State College.
He also founded and operated his own insurance business and was instrumental in shaping and developing early Health Maintenance Organizations.
He served as vice president of Baptist Hospital. He also was instrumental in facilitating the walkover connecting Nemours Hospital and Baptist Hospital. Later, he was CEO of Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta. His knowledge in healthcare systems led to international work, advising governments in Russia and Mongolia on healthcare development and reform.
