The San Marcos Treatment Center celebrated its 80th anniversary at its facility to commemorate the center’s many accomplishments and service throughout the years.

Originally established as the Brown School by Bert and Lorine Brown in 1940, the facility and its founders led the way by becoming one of the first to provide modern residential treatment to children and adolescents. Over time, the center has evolved into a place that provides residential psychiatric treatment to patients with a complex array of behavioral, neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric problems.

The celebration saw staff, visitors from their corporate office, individuals from the Universal Health Services (UHS) sister facilities, supporters and community members gather to recognize the center’s milestone.

Jerry Lager, Ph.D., Superintendent of Ki Charter Academy and educational provider for residential students at the treatment center served as emcee of the ceremony and introduced the first of several speakers.

“Even with all of the changes that the facility has seen and the progress that has been made over the last 80 years, the dreams that the Browns had and the roots that they planted long ago remain at the heart of it all,” said Jerry Lager, Ph.D., Superintendent of Ki Charter Academy.

During his speech, Mack Wigley, CEO, announced his retirement after 45 years with the facility and thanked his staff, colleagues and family. After Wigley’s remarks, he was presented with an award from Matt Peterson, President of the Behavioral Health Division at UHS.

“It’s not every day that we celebrate an anniversary of 80 years, this is a significant accomplishment,” Peterson said. This speaks for the dedication of the team here today as well as the teams that preceded us over the past eight decades.”