Rugby alumni at the Homecoming 2010 Opening Session included,
left to right, Davenport Campus graduates Willie Kindred, D.C.,
’72; Roy McCallum, D.C., ’71; and Fred Schofield, D.C., ’81. |
Rugby jerseys were a common sight at
this year’s Davenport Campus Homecoming
as about 120 former players returned
to The Fountainhead to celebrate 50 years
of Palmer rugby. The celebration began
with a social Wednesday evening. It was
hosted by Kurt Burbach, D.C., Davenport
’86, and his wife, Tina, and sponsored
by the Palmer Rugby Alumni.
Says Dr. Burbach, “We had 50-plus years
of Palmer College at Lindsay Park Yacht
Club enjoying fellow classmates, teammates
and one another in a fun format
learning together and, better yet, learning
from the future of our profession,
the Palmer student, represented honorably
and quite professionally by the
young men and women who comprise
the Palmer Rugby Program.”
During Thursday morning’s general session,
Chancellor Dennis Marchiori, D.C.,
Ph.D., recognized the rugby alumni in
attendance—all sporting their jerseys—
and introduced a video commemorating
50 years of Palmer rugby.
“The Palmer Rugby Alumni, after spending
the week celebrating the 50th anniversary at
Palmer, had one common thing to say about
their support of the College: ‘I am all in,’”
says J. Hartley, D.C., Davenport ’92, and
president of the Palmer Rugby Alumni
group. “As a group we look forward to
supporting both academics and athletics at
Palmer for the next 50 years, and completing
our mission of spreading the word of
chiropractic through athletic excellence.”
There were about 240 people at the
Davenport RiverCenter for Friday evening’s
rugby banquet. Highlights were announcements
of support for the Palmer Rugby
Program from Standard Process and Health
MD, along with a $10,000 first-year commitment
and a long-term challenge commitment
from Dr. Kurt and Tina Burbach.
The Palmer Rugby Alumni organization
has entered into a partnership with Palmer
for a three-year, $300,000 commitment
to the College’s academic/hardship scholarship
fund.
During the banquet, members of
Palmer’s fourth place USA Men’s
Division 1 Final Four National
Championship rugby team posed
with Board Chairman Trevor
Ireland, D.C., Davenport ’70,
and Board Officer Vickie Palmer,
on the left, and Davenport Campus
President Dr. Donald Kern and
Chancellor Dr. Dennis Marchiori,
on the right. |
During the banquet, Palmer rugby blazers
were presented to the 2010 Men’s Rugby
Final Four team, the first-ever Palmer
rugby team was recognized and the Alldecades
Team members were announced.
“When I came to Palmer College in
1967, I was blessed to play for the
Palmer Rugby Club, which had been
developed by one of my mentors, Dr.
David Palmer, only a few years prior,”
said Palmer Board of Trustees Chairman
Trevor Ireland, D.C., at the banquet. “My
success on the field—and the success of
so many others who excelled as players
during those early years—came as a
result of the leadership and guidance of
Dr. Tom Louw, (Davenport, ’65) our first
rugby coach. Coach Louw will forever be
a hero to those who played under him.”
On Saturday, the Palmer rugby team
played a home game against a team from
Cedar Rapids, which they won 70-0
in front of several hundred fans. Says
Palmer Athletic Director Ron O’Brien,
“I’m always amazed at the camaraderie
of this group of alumni and their devotion
to chiropractic and Palmer College.”