On November 9th 2014, company Co-Founder and COO Eugene “Buddy” Koon, passed away after a courageous battle with lung cancer. “Buddy and I were committed to the same things, the same Big Picture…” says his partner and CEO Josh Watts. Buddy was and will remain a daily reminder to make decisions, build relationships, and provide excellent care with Faith as our Compass. That same mantra can be found on each MedTrust vehicle with a commemorative sticker.
Prior to MedTrust, Buddy had a successful career in banking and software development as well as committing equal time to his family, church (Beulah Baptist) as a Deacon and Finance Chair, his children’s school (Thomas Sumter Academy) with various leadership positions including Chairman of the Board and Assistant Football Coach, and to many as a cherished friend.
People often asked how Buddy and Josh came to partner in the creation of MedTrust. In many ways this partnership had been in development for more than 30 years. You see Josh’s lifelong and best friend is Tripp Koon, Buddy’s son. That history allowed Josh and Buddy to honestly build and constantly assess progress towards their goal of providing a company worth working for, and ultimately a company worth owning. MedTrust sponsored a fundraiser in 2014 (BBQ for Buddy), raising more than $10,000 for the Koon family, a testament to the impact Buddy had on so many. More than 400 people participated and/or donated.
His family remains involved with the company and in the exciting future of MedTrust, all thanks to the strong foundation laid in those early days. To the end, Buddy lived his life with Total Commitment to his God, his family, his friends, and MedTrust. “Buddy’s fingerprints will always help mold this company in the future…” says Watts.