FERRIDAY — Long-time Concordia Parish surgeon Dr. Ron Gregg died early Friday morning.

Gregg was the head general surgeon at Riverland Medical Center, serving for 39 years. He began his tenure there July 12, 1974, and retired July 19, 2013.

RMC Administrator Billy Rucker said Gregg ran Riverland’s operating room department in a way that made those at Riverland enjoy working with him.

“His personality blended in well with the entire community in the Miss-Lou area, and he was made-to-fit for Riverland,” Rucker said.

The hospital dedicated its operating room to Gregg approximately a month ago, Rucker said, but kept the ceremony small because Gregg was a personal man.

“He didn’t like a lot of hoop-de-la, and he did a lot behind the scenes that people didn’t know,” Rucker said.

Shortly after his retirement, the Concordia Parish Chamber of Commerce honored Gregg as Male Concordian of the Year.

In his short acceptance speech for the award in January 2014, a visibly moved Gregg said he’d prized his life’s work in the area.

“Everything I have done in Concordia Parish for the last 40 years is because it is what I love to do,” he said at the time.

This story will be updated with funeral information as it becomes available.