Sign of the times

Guiser remembered on Rte. 322

Nick Malawskey
MIFFLINTOWN — The rain Friday stopped just long enough for a sign to be unveiled — a sign commemorating the life of “Doc” L.G. Guiser.

For the nearly 150 people gathered at the boat access in the Route 322 Lewistown Narrows, it was generally agreed that Doc would have been laughing.

“I think the joke might be on us today,” Rep. Adam Harris, R-Mifflintown, said.

Harris said he initially thought he was playing the joke on Guiser — honoring the rural doctor and community leader who was humble and shunned the spotlight — but instead felt that Guiser had turned the tables on those assembled.

“I think Doc is laughing at us,” he said.

Harris spoke of Guiser’s legacy along with Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, as a portion of the Lewistown Narrows was formally named in Guiser’s memory.

“He was so compassionate and put so much time into being a family physician,” Harris said. “He cared for a lot of people from the cradle to the grave.”

More than a few eyes in the gathered crowd were wet as Harris, Corman and Benninghoff unveiled the a mockup of the signs which will stand alongside the highway.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation work crews unveiled the actual signs following the ceremony.

Harris said those signs will be a vehicle to keeping Guiser’s memory alive in the county where he worked as a rural physician for many years.

“Ten, 20 or 30 years from now some young child will drive by and ask: Who was Doc Guiser?” he said. “And that is how we will keep his story alive.”

Harris said Guiser did a tough job, and did it well, serving his community in many capacities.

“His phone was always ringing,” Harris remembered. “Whenever people needed him, he was there.”

Benninghoff and Corman also spoke of Guiser’s commitment to his community, adding they were “very shocked and saddened” by the doctor’s passing.

Benninghoff, who also had served as a county coroner, spoke of time spent with Guiser.

“He was a great man and a great inspiration,” Benninghoff said.

Corman spoke of Guiser’s commitment to the Lewistown Narrows project, and his drive in having it pushed into reality.

In a fitting tribute, three pieces of rescue equipment stood beside the tent where the dignitaries spoke. A truck from the Mifflintown Hose Co. and ambulances from Central Juniata and Port Royal EMS — companies the respond to the Narrows in case of emergency — attended the ceremony.

Over the years, that equipment responded many times to the Narrows, as did Guiser — experiences that many said led him to fight for the construction of the four-lane highway.

“Dr. Guiser was widely respected in the region for his services as a physician, his many contributions to the community and well as for his work to focus attention on the need for a safer highway through the Lewistown Narrows,” Kevin Kline, district executive for PennDOT said.

As the clouds moved above the small gathering, the politicians unveiled a sign which was then presented to Guiser’s family.

The rain held off for a little while following the ceremony, before moving sporadically back into the area. Meanwhile, along the road, work crews unveiled the new signs, officially, if not formally, naming the highway after Guiser.

But at the boat launch, Harris’ closing remarks summed up for many Guiser’s impact on his local community:

“He was a true patriot, whose compassion and selflessness will always be remembered,” Harris said. “We’re here to salute you Doc ... over and out.”