Culbertson out as Vets’ Home administrator

QUINCY – The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) has asked for and received the resignation of Troy Culbertson as the administrator of the Illinois Veterans’ Home of Quincy.

Culbertson was hired in August 2016 under former governor Bruce Rauner, just as the facility was dealing with an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease that took the lives of 14 people and caused sickness of dozens more. That eventually led to the current $300 million construction project to create modern living quarters.

“It is with a heavy heart, and came as a shock, that I was asked to resign today,” Culbertson said in a statement to Muddy River News. “I have been honored to be the administrator of the Illinois Veterans’ Home for the last seven years and I feel that along with my team, we have accomplished many great things in caring for the veterans that we serve. I have been proud to serve and preserve our veteran’s rights and dignity.”

IDVA Director Terry Prince did not elaborate on why Culbertson was asked to step down.

“Earlier today, Troy Culbertson resigned his position as administrator of the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy,” Prince said in a statement.  “We are extremely grateful for his service to veterans in his care and his stewardship of the home’s campus, its construction project, and the staff. He has been a dedicated and trusted leader of the department, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

IDVA’s Senior Home Administrator Angela Simmons will serve as the interim administrator at Quincy. while the department begins its search for a permanent administrator.

Culbertson took the job with 26 years of experience with long term care, working with veterans throughout his career, including designing veteran specific living units and veteran-specific recognition ceremonies for veterans in the homes he had led.

In 2006, Culbertson was awarded the Missouri Health Care Association ‘Administrator of the Year’. Earlier in his career, Culbertson served as a Regional Director of Operations providing operational support for ten facilities in Missouri and Iowa and twelve facilities in Missouri and Western Tennessee.