Some alumni looking at the school’s history wall on the 6th floor of the Main Building
After COVID-19 delayed their 50-year reunion, Texas A&M School of Dentistry’s Class of 1970 finally reunited Friday, Oct. 21. Over a dozen members of the class, along with their families, enjoyed a meal on campus, toured the school, and reminisced about old times.
“I loved my experience in dental school,” says Ron Perkins, whose practice is in Rockwall. “I stayed here and took my orthodontics training at the school; I was here six years.”
The school, formerly known as Baylor College of Dentistry, had a 1970 class of 100. Kuperman recalled how technology in the dental field has changed over the past half-century. For example, dental chairs were previously operated by foot pumps.
John Findley grew up in Hearne, near College Station and Texas A&M University. It was a small school back then, he says, but it had a reputation for high-quality education and a proud history. A&M complements the dental school’s own reputation and history, he says.
“A&M complements the history of Baylor. It’s an additive,” he says. “I’m very pleased with it.”
The Class of 1970 came together from many different walks of life and for different reasons, but they all had a common goal — dentistry. Wesley Bowden says he was originally going to vet school but had his wisdom teeth removed while a student. It gave him some time off classes, and during his time at the clinic, he decided to change career trajectories to dentistry. Larry Melton remembered knocking his front teeth out while playing basketball as a kid, and he was less than impressed by the work the dentist had done on him.
Dr. Solaleh Shahmirzadi, graduate student, discusses the radiology department with several alumni
“I thought, ‘Well, I could do a better job than that’ in the seventh grade,” he says. “So I decided to go to dental school.”
The Class of 1970 claims several distinguished achievers. Out of their class, four members became presidents of the Texas Dental Association, according to Findley. It speaks to the quality education they received, Bowden says.
While the class came to the school to learn, they also found a community of friends. Some even found love! Suzanne Bowden says she met her then-future husband — Wesley — on a blind date when he was a student here. Marlys Melton met her husband, Larry, in botany class at Texas Tech University, and they moved to Dallas for him to attend dental school shortly after they married.
“It was very exciting coming to Dallas for dental school,” she says.
“What we’ve found today is how much we bonded,” adds Kuperman, who was class president his senior year with the dental school.
Members of the Class of 1970
With more than 50 years of experience in the dental profession, many members of the Class of 1970 had words of wisdom to share with the current student body. Perkins says career opportunities in dentistry will really expand in the future. He urged students to pay attention to the development of sleep health and dentistry’s connection to it. As technology develops and more is learned, he says, it is becoming more apparent how much sleep plays a role in overall health, and dentists will play key roles in furthering this field.
Melton and Bowden both wished students good luck in their education and encouraged them to study hard. They also reminded students that dentistry is a field of continuing education, and it’s important to keep learning, even after graduation.
“Plan well, practice well, and enjoy the profession of dentistry,” Findley says. “It’s a unique profession and very rewarding. The reason I’m still practicing is I can’t leave my patients. My patients are family.”
Original source can be found here.
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