Let me get right to the
point. I graduated from
Palmer College in the fall
of 1966 and began practicing
in the spring of 1967.
The newspaper
notice of my
office opening
was written to
emphasize my
education at
the oldest, largest and finest chiropractic college in the world.
Even though my hometown was a thousand miles from Davenport,
I immediately began treating people who recognized the
Palmer name.
As my early years in practice progressed I quickly developed
a strong sense of affiliation with the College and began
attending annual Homecomings. From 1970 to 2004 I missed
only two times—once for my 10th wedding anniversary and
once when my mother-in-law passed away the morning I was
to leave for Iowa.
I joined the Palmer College of Chiropractic International
Alumni Association (PCCIAA) first as a regular dues paying
member, then as a state officer and finally as Northeast Regional
Director.
I thoroughly enjoyed the “Mid-year meetings” in March
followed by the Homecoming meetings in August. The
comradery experienced both from my Alumni Association
membership and interactions with students, faculty and
administration made me feel that each visit to the Palmer
campus was like coming home!
A serious rift between the Palmer Board of Trustees and the
PCCIAA came to a head in 2004. By the spring of 2005, the
organization was no longer welcomed on campus. The anger
between the two groups made me wonder who was right and
who was wrong. Strong voices from within both the Board of
Trustees of the College and the association board seemed to
widen the gulf to the point of no return. I decided to side
with the association and stopped attending Homecoming and
supporting the College.
That was two and a half years ago. In the spring of 2007 I felt
a desire to rekindle my relationship with the College. My very
good friend and chiropractic mentor, Dr. Charles Keller, spoke
with me many times about what was occurring on campus. His
position as a member of the Board of Trustees and the fact that
I’ve known him for the 40 years I’ve been in practice lent great
credibility to his comments.
I listened to Dr. Keller and began reading this magazine. By
late spring I received the 2007 Homecoming registration
packet. After a great deal of introspection I decided I’d like
to experience firsthand the changes that had taken place since
I was last on the Davenport Campus.
Once on campus I was blown away by the warmth and sincerity
of the College’s employees. I purposely interacted with students
the entire weekend and sensed their commitment to becoming
Palmer graduates. I toured the brand new Academic Health
Center and it was then that I felt I had done the right thing by
returning.
There is a large number of alumni who were members of the
PCCIAA. Except for a few, I think the overwhelming number
of alumni who stopped supporting the College still harbor a
genuine sense of closeness to Palmer College. I want this letter
to serve as a wakeup call to those men and women doctors
who have stayed away since 2005. It is definitely time to return
home. Our College needs us and wants us back.
Let’s put the recent past behind. Join with Dr. Mickey Burt, our
new alumni association director, and get involved again with
our alma mater. The Alumni and Development staff at the
College, in particular Lois Kundel and Lisa Walden, are some
of the nicest and most ardent supporters of the oldest, largest
and finest chiropractic college in the world.