University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry - Bushwacker Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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R. bl. RINEHART, D.D.S., F.A.C.D Dean 151

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ADMINISTIQATICDINI

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ROY JAMES RINEI-IART, DDS., F.A.C.D. Many inquiries have been received pertaining to the activities of Roy James Rine- hart, so we have taken this opportunity to give to each member of the school this bio- graphical sketch of our Dean. Dr. Rinehart was born on a farm in Piatt County, Illinois, near the small town of DeLand. He was graduated from high school in 1897 and attended college in Blooming- ton, Illinois, and Marion, Indiana. Feeling the urge of travel and a desire to know something more of the country, he took a trip through some of the western states and while in Kansas City visited the West- ern Dental College. He then became impressed with dentistry and the possibilities that profession offered to the young man and matriculated in that institution from which he graduated in 1902 with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. After graduation, Dr. Rinehart returned to the state of his birth and practiced for five years at Canton, and then moved to Peoria, where he practiced for a period of three years. At this time, he temporarily gave up the practice of dentistry and went into the publishing business, which again brought him to Kansas City where he gained many valuable business experiences that were to hold him in good stead in later years. But at this time, the financial profit in the publishing business was not so lucrative, and after a year's experience he returned to his first love, the practice of dentistry. He established his practice downtown, where he remained until he was called upcn to devote his entire services to dental education. His professional career was marked with unusual success. He enjoyed a large practice and for a good many years referred many patients to the younger members of the profession. In 1913 he accepted an invita- tion to become a member of the faculty of the Western Dental College to lecture on Crown and Bridge. In 1916 theWestern DentalCollege went throughareorganization period and Dr. Rinehart became the Secretary-Treasurer and Supervisor. At this time the school was placed upon an entirely different basis from former timesg many more instructors, as well as new equipment, were added. In 1918, during the World War, Dr. Rinehart was appointed by the Surgeon General as examiner of dentists for commissions in the army. He also received an appointment as a member of the Medical Advisory Board No. '53 and was placed in charge of the students of the college who were admitted to the S. A. T. C. Shortly afterwards he was made a Major in the Dental Corps of the Army of the United States and holds that commission at the present time. Dr. Rinehart is also Professional Counselor for the office of the Surgeon General of the Seventh Corps Area of the United States Army. Dr. Rinehart was instrumental in bringing the two dental schools of Kansas City together and forming the Kansas City-Western Dental College. In this new organization, he was the Secretary-Treasurer, a member of the Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Executive Committee having active charge of the school. Later his title was changed to that of Executive Dean, and in 1927 he was made Dean. Dr. Rinehart established the free clinic for school children in the college in 1920. In 1923 he effected a settlement with the stockholders and secured a non-profit or eleemos- ynary charter for the institution. In 1924 he financed and erected the new building. In 1926 he was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of Lincoln and Lee University, and the dental college became the first unit of the university. Ever mindful of the responsibility attached to him as Dean of this institution, he has constantly been improving standards, purchasing new equipment and gaining nation-wide recognition for the school. In 1927 the Dental Educational Council of America gave the school class A rating. He was successful in securing Rho Chapter of the honorary dental fraternity, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, for the school. - He appeared before the Kansas City Dental Society and advocated that the funds left by Dr. Howard S. Lowry be used to establish a free clinic in the dental college on the basis of an interneship where graduates may become more experienced in the handling of children and at the same time render an adequate service for children who are deprived of a pay service, E91