New Wayne County VA clinic to honor decorated Army general and longtime Canton resident

Relatives of Oliver Dillard Sr., a decorated Army general buried at Arlington National Cemetery, recently toured Canton’s new VA clinic knowing the spacious, convenient location may be named after their ancestor.

Congresswomen Haley Stevens and Debbie Dingell wandered through the lobby, exam rooms and other areas of the 5900 North Lotz Road building with the family.

All were impressed with their surroundings, and the son of the high-ranking military officer, a longtime Canton resident before he died in 2015, was touched to know the facility likely would bear his father’s name.

“The effort that he put in to go to the VA is now coming back,” said Oliver Dillard Jr., who owns DC Hydraulics Inc. on Koppernick Road. “He’s getting back the reason he went to the VA, to see VA give back to the veterans more of the services that they deserve. This is a great facility. It looks great.”

On May 26, just before Memorial Day, the congresswomen officially shared legislation supported by the entire Michigan delegation to rename the new community-based outpatient clinic after General Dillard.