# Clayton McWhorter

> Ralph Clayton McWhorter (1933-2016) was a Nashville businessman, investor and philanthropist. A pharmacy graduate who became an HCA executive and co-founded HealthTrust, he later co-founded Clayton Associates, founded PharmMD (now AdhereHealth), and served as the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s founding board chair. Education and mentoring became recurring commitments across his career.

- **Role:** Business executive, investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- **Organizations:** AdhereHealth (founded as PharmMD), Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), HealthTrust, Inc., Clayton Associates, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Samford University, Belmont University, University of Tennessee, LifeTrust America, Ingram Industries
- **From:** Chattanooga, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Pre-pharmacy studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Howard College (now Samford University), Honorary Doctor of Commerce, Samford University, Honorary Doctor of Humanities, Belmont University
- **Known for:** Samford Alumnus of the Year, 1990., Established an investment firm supporting early-stage businesses in 1996., Founding chair of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

## Career timeline

- **1955** — Graduated from Howard College with a pharmacy degree.
- **1970** — Joined HCA as administrator of Palmyra Park Hospital in Albany, Georgia.
- **1985** — Became HCA president; the family obituary specifies president and chief operating officer.
- **1987** — Co-founded HealthTrust and became chairman, president and CEO.
- **1995** — HealthTrust merged with Columbia/HCA; McWhorter became chairman of the combined company.
- **1996** — Co-founded Clayton Associates with Stuart McWhorter and Bill Cook; founded LifeTrust America.
- **2006** — Founded PharmMD, later renamed AdhereHealth.
- **2010** — Became founding board chair of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.
- **2016** — Died January 23, aged 82; was chairman emeritus of Clayton Associates.

## Achievements

- Samford Alumnus of the Year, 1990.
- Established an investment firm supporting early-stage businesses in 1996.
- Founding chair of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.
- Supported university scholarships and peer learning for business leaders.
- University of Tennessee Natalie and Jim Haslam Presidential Medal, 2013.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — An April 7 Circle Back interview with Stuart McWhorter revisited the lessons he learned from his father.
- **2025-04** — The Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s 2024 annual report, hosted in April 2025, describes the McWhorter Circle’s support for entrepreneurs who need access to resources.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/clayton-mcwhorter
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Last updated: 2026-10-25