ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Physicians, staff and former employees gathered April 28 at Providence Family Physicians to honor founding member Dr. Joseph Steele III, who retired from the practice on April 30.

A 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama’s School of Medicine, Steele received his medical license in 1978 and opened a private practice in Robertsdale in 1980. In 1982 Steele and Dr. U. Ross Luckie opened Central Baldwin Family Physicians on U.S. Highway 90 in Robertsdale.

“It was something that was really needed in this area,” said Dr. T. Phillip Bell, who joined the practice in 1998. “When people are looking to move to an area, good health care is one of the things they look for along with good schools and good infrastructure and they provided that.”

During his 30-plus-year career, Steele has served as team doctor for Robertsdale High School, started a mission’s organization through the First Baptist Church of Robertsdale and helped organize and serve as medical director for Robertsdale Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, which opened in 2001.

“He is a great leader in the community,” said Mayor Charles Murphy during a ceremony to honor Steele at the health care center on April 13.

Murphy presented a proclamation at the ceremony declaring April 30, 2016 as Dr. Joseph Steele III Day in Robertsdale. “I am proud to call him my doctor, my neighbor and my friend.”

After Luckie, who now serves as a civilian contract doctor at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, left the practice in 2006, Dr. Lynn H. Porter joined the practice, which partnered with Providence Hospital in Mobile.

On July 1, Bell said, the practice will join the Mobile Infirmary group and will be recruiting new partners.