When Fred Garrett was growing up in Kansas in the 1940s, his schoolteacher parents worked hard to make a living in the public school system, setting an example that would shape his life.
Now 76, Fred Garrett, DDS, MS, is a board-certified orthodontist and clinical professor at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, where he and his wife, Dianne, have established the first endowed chair in the school's 106-year history.
Representing a $500,000 commitment, the Fred A. and Dianne F. Garrett Endowed Chair in Orthodontics is dedicated to Fred's parents, Frank A. and Rosa Lee Garrett, and all the other educators whose dedication helped make him the success he is today.
Dr. Denton A. Cooley, MDWorld-famous heart surgeon Denton A. Cooley, MD, surgeon-in-chief, founder and president emeritus of the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, has made a gift to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry in memory of his father, the late Ralph C. Cooley, DDS, a 1908 alumnus of the school.
It is the largest single gift ever made to the School of Dentistry and establishes the Ralph C. Cooley, DDS Distinguished Professorship in Biomaterials. In addition, a multi- purpose center under construction adjacent to the new dental school building at 7500 Cambridge St. will be named the "Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS Faculty Life Center."
An article about the gift appeared in the June 18 Houston Chronicle.
"I consider it a real opportunity to demonstrate my pride and affection for my father," said Cooley, who is now 90. "The older I get, the more grateful I am for his influence on my life and development. He was an outstanding parent who served as a role model."
John A. Valenza, DDS, dean of the School of Dentistry, said the gift will perpetuate the legacy of Dr. Ralph Cooley, an innovator who inspired others to continue the advancement of dentistry. The endowed professorship will help to recruit and support the work of a biomaterials clinician/scientist.
The gift also supports the construction of UTHealth's first multi-purpose facility for faculty campus-wide. The Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS Faculty Life Center, which is expected to open in 2012, will serve as a place for professional conferences, meetings and other events. The 14,000-square-foot center will seat up to 400 people.
Dr. R.G. "Wick"
AlexanderOrthodontist R.G. "Wick" Alexander, DDS, MSD, of Arlington has given the School of Dentistry a gift of $1 million toward the construction of a new dental school building in the Texas Medical Center's South Campus. In making the donation, Alexander dedicated it to the memory of A. P. Westfall, DDS, the founder of the Orthodontics program at the School of Dentistry.
"With five orthodontists in the Alexander family, it is appropriate to give thanks to this wonderful specialty for the influence it has had in our lives and consequently thousands of our patients," said Alexander. "Since it all started with Dr. Westfall, … we humbly dedicate this clinic to his memory. May his inspiration permeate through these walls to all future generations."
Alexander is a 1962 graduate of the School of Dentistry and received a master of science degree and orthodontic certification in 1964. Other orthodontists in his family include his sons, Charles Dean Alexander, DDS, MSD, and James Moody Alexander, DDS, MS; a brother, C. Moody Alexander, DDS, MS; and a nephew, J. Clifton Alexander, DDS, MS.
In his 44-year practice, Wick Alexander has treated more than 15,000 patients and is widely known as the designer of the Alexander Discipline, a philosophy of orthodontic treatment used by orthodontists around the world. Alexander also has a second book, The 20 Principles of the Alexander Discipline, and continues to lecture internationally.
He and his wife, Janna, have three children, including the two sons practicing orthodontics and a daughter, Shanna Alexander Argote, of Costa Rica.
Dr. Billy Joe "B.J."
WestbrookAn East Houston dentist has given $1 million toward the school's planned new facility in the UT Research Park. Billy Joe "B.J." Westbrook, DDS, a 1954 graduate of UT School of Dentistry and a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, made the donation individually and on behalf of his late wife, Rosalie Graves Westbrook.
Westbrook said he wanted to give something back to the school where he learned his profession. "It's a way of saying thanks for giving me the excellent dental education that made it possible for a boy like me - who grew up in a family of very modest means - to eventually be able to make a significant monetary contribution in return," he said.
Retired after more than four decades of general dentistry, Westbrook remains a director of Woodforest National Bank, which has more than 400 branches and plans to expand.
"It's not that I made a whole lot of money in dentistry," he said "but it gave me status in the community and put me in a position to have associations with people who were astute in business. Through these contacts and associations, it was possible for me to make some very good investments."
Over the years, Westbrook has been active in a variety of civic activities. He was a charter member of the North Shore Rotary Club and a past president of the North Channel Chamber of Commerce. He continues to be a member of the Greater Houston Dental Society.
As a student at the UT School of Dentistry, he developed special regard for faculty members Sumter S. Arnim, DDS, PhD, and Danny D'Anton, DDS, as well as former Dean Frederick Elliott, DDS
Westbrook's donation was the second $1 million gift to the UT School of Dentistry at Houston. In August 2007, Arlington orthodontist R.G. "Wick" Alexander, DDS, MSD, donated $1 million toward the building fund. At the time, it was the largest philanthropic donation in the school's history.
Remembering his own struggles to make ends meet while going through dental school, James R. Ballinger, DDS, of Weimar has donated $100,000 for scholarships to The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston.
Ballinger is a 1954 graduate of UTSD and a veteran of World War II (1943-46) who saw combat in Germany and occupation duty in Japan. He married Iola Bumgarten of Schulenburg in August 1946.
After graduation, Ballinger started his practice in West University Place and was there 14 years, during which time Iola left school-teaching and joined him in the practice. He credits her with being "a perfect partner during our life together - 42 years of which were spent in our dental practice." She earned certification as a dental assistant during that time.
In 1968, when A.A. Mensik, DDS, of Weimar retired, the Ballingers took over his practice there. Happy to be in the rural setting, they practiced in Weimar 28 years, retiring in 1996 after Iola suffered a stroke. She died in November 2005.
Ballinger's donation matches the largest ever received at UTSD for a scholarship - a record set in 1986. This new money will be awarded on the basis of either financial need or academic excellence.
"The school will see to it that the people who get the scholarships are people who deserve it," Ballinger said. "I wanted to give to the school that gave me the ability to earn this money to give back."
Dr. and Mrs. William
R. "Bill" BirdwellWilliam R. "Bill" Birdwell, DDS, (UTDB '73) and his wife, Susan, of Bryan have donated $100,000 for the new School of Dentistry building, which will be located in the UT Research Park currently under construction in the southern part of the Texas Medical Center.
He believes some of his dental school classmates may be surprised at his support of the UTSD building project. "I was an above-average student, but I wasn't in the top 10 percent," he said. "And I didn't have a great attitude during the first couple of years of dental school. Some of the faculty gave us what I considered rough treatment, and I took offense at that. My classmates would think, 'Bill Birdwell would never set foot in that building again.' Well, I invite them to call me; I'll explain."
Birdwell said dentistry has made a wonderful life possible, with time for his family, rewarding compensation and opportunities to volunteer in his community. He's been involved in alumni activities for nearly 20 years, and maintaining those connections makes it easy to want to be part of making the school better.
"It can't miss, because of the facilities, the identity with the Texas Medical Center and the faculty that such a school will attract," Birdwell said. "In the context of its rise in stature, it will give every alumnus a new identify - an identification that will give each of us increased stature in our profession (whether we deserve it or not). I feel very blessed to be part of this."
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in English, then earned his dental degree from The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston in 1973. He was commissioned in the US Air Force Dental Corps and served at Beale AFB in California until he opened his private dental practice in Bryan in 1975, providing family and general dentistry. The couple lost their lost their 25-year-old son, Will, in a car wreck several years ago. Their daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Steven Mason, are the parents of Bill and Susan's two adorable grandchildren.
Since he's been in Bryan, Birdwell has helped organize a local indigent care dental clinic staffed with volunteer dentists and auxiliaries. The clinic was recently dedicated in his name. He also helped establish a dental hygiene school at Blinn College to help address the statewide shortage of dental hygienists.
In 2001 he was named Texas Dentist of the Year™. He has also served as president of the UTSD Alumni Association and was named UTSD Alumnus of the Year in 2005. He is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists which he has served as Vice Regent for Texas. He is a past president of the Brazos Valley District Dental Society and director of the Texas AGD. Additionally, he has served on the Bryan ISD Board of Trustees, including two years as president. He is also active in his church and many community organizations. He received the Jefferson Award for public service in 2006 and was named Citizen of the Year in Bryan-College Station in 2007.
Dr. and Mrs. Herb WadeHerbert L. "Herb" Wade, D.D.S., (UTDB '69) and his wife, Sally, of Bryan have arranged for a planned gift of $100,000 that will become the Herbert and Sally Wade Professorship in Pediatric Dentistry - a first for the Pediatric Dentistry Department at UTSD.
Wade, a pediatric dentist, is particularly concerned about the shortage of dental faculty, and he and his wife also wanted to make a gift that would have a lasting effect. The result was a professorship in pediatric dentistry that will be funded upon their passing.
"It takes a special person to go into academic dentistry, and right now, with the budget crunches we have, it's a real challenge," Wade said. "If we have a crisis in dentistry, it's going to be in academics and the shortage of professors."
Wade also sees the gift as a chance to make history in establishing the first such professorship for pediatric dentistry at the school. "Here's a chance to get in on the ground floor, not only to be building a dental school but also to establish a world-class dental school by donating professorships. I don't know if this will ever come along again," he said.
A 1969 graduate of the School of Dentistry, Wade also earned a pediatric dentistry certificate in 1971. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Baylor University in Waco and married Sally Dee in 1964. They have two children and three grandchildren.
He grew up in the Rio Grande Valley but has made Bryan-College Station his home, serving the community through the Rotary International, his church, the Brazos Valley Arts Council, and as president of the Bryan Independent School District Board.
He is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Wade is also a past president of the Texas Dental Association and in 1999 was named Texas Dentist of the Year by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. He has also held posts with the American Dental Association. In 2006, Wade was named Outstanding Alumnus of the UT Dental Branch, and currently serves on the school's Alumni Board.
Dr. and Mrs. Claude
L. NabersClaude L. Nabers, DDS, MSD, (UTDB '46), his wife Blanche and their sons, Mark and Brad Nabers, have made a gift supporting the Claude and Blanche Nabers Visiting Professorship in Periodontics. It is only the second visiting professorship in the history of the School of Dentistry.
Now in his 80s, Nabers lives in San Antonio, retired after a career in periodontics that included a successful practice, dental inventions, scholarly publications, and lectures and surgical demonstrations before audiences around the world. He has lectured in 28 states and 14 countries, and it is perhaps especially fitting that this gift, made via transfer of stock from their family's limited partnership, will be used to fund a visiting professorship in periodontics.
"I really thought I needed to do something for my profession, to give something back, because it has been so good to me," he said. "(My wife and I) have had a wonderful, wonderful life."
The Claude and Blanche Nabers Visiting Professorship in Periodontics will support annual lectures from some of the nation's preeminent educators in the field. The first lecturer was William Stalker, DDS, MS, of San Antonio, speaking on the topic "60 Years of Periodontics."
A native of Vernon, Texas, Nabers began his college years at Stephen F. Austin State University and The University of Texas at Austin. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and graduated from the School of Dentistry in 1946, going on to earn a master's degree in periodontics. In 1951, he married Blanche Eaton, and they now have two children and six grandchildren.
Nabers is a past president of the American Academy of Periodontology, the American College of Dentists and the Academy of International Dentistry. His name has appeared in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Who's Who in the World. In 1978, he was awarded the Department of the Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his work as a consultant in periodontics to Brooke Army Hospital, Lackland Air Force Hospital, the School of Aerospace Medicine and as national consultant to the surgeon general of the Air Force. Nabers is a past president of the Southwest Society of Periodontists and served six years on the American Dental Association's Council on Dental Research.
He retired in 1984 after 35 years in practice. During that time he developed and published on four surgical procedures, and traveled the world doing lectures and demonstrations. He also invented the "Nabers Probe" used to find the furcation (dividing point) in multi-rooted teeth.
Mrs. Evelyn Howell
The story was both true, and typical: A resident of The Women's Home was getting her life back together after two abusive marriages and years of drug and alcohol abuse. The woman, ashamed of her teeth, kept a hand in front of her mouth when she spoke, and she rarely smiled.
That image hit home with Houston philanthropist Evelyn Howell. "We learned about this one woman's story, and it led us to the greater need," she said. "My heart just ached for her."
Paula Paust, executive director of The Women's Home, a nonprofit agency in Houston, said missing teeth cripple women's self-esteem and limit their job prospects. "These are women who have struggled with drug abuse and mental health issues, and our program is about getting them back in the work force. If they have teeth missing, the women will look down and not make eye contact, and you're not going to get hired doing that," she said.
Howell learned from her son, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Development Board member Bradley Howell, that the UTHealth School of Dentistry offers care at reduced prices. Dental students or residents do the work under direction of experienced dental faculty.
After a meeting with the dean and representatives of The Women's Home, Evelyn Howell decided to donate $10,000 to the School of Dentistry to pay for Women's Home residents' dental care. She believes so much in the work that she has made the gift into an annual grant from the Howell Family Foundation, managed by herself and her four sons.
While she doesn't know details about the woman whose story moved her to action, Howell does know she had extensive dental work and regained confidence. Once lost to her family, the woman who never smiled now has a job, a car and an invitation to live near her mother, brother and sister-in-law.
"So she can go back home," Howell said. "She can hold her head up, and she can smile."
