Temple University School of Dentistry - Odontolog Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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President’s Message ROBERT LIVINGSTON JOHNSON A.B., L.L.D. President of Temple University Greetings To the Dental School. Class of 1956: The other day I ran across an utterance by Walt Kelly, caricaturist and humorist, which will seem like a bit of nonsense to some but which will suggest wisdom to others. The best humor often has both qualities. He said: “Many of us now living will one day be completely human.” Whether or not he intended to be taken seriously, I hope he is right. What this world needs most of all is more people who are completely human. That goes for statesmen, business men, college presidents. Above all, it applies to practitioners of dentistry and the other healing arts. You are alleviators of pain and custodians of health. No one is competent to minister to suffering who is without human under' standing, or as Mr. Kelly puts it, is completely human. I recommend the attainment of that attribute as your next goal. You members of the Class of ’56 have a fine education in dental science. By the expenditure of time and money on the part of both yourself and of Temple University, you have acquired knowledge and dexterity. If now you can grow into the state of being completely human, your life will be a blessing to your community and a satisfaction to yourself. But without that quality, you will be only a skilled workman doing piece-work for pay. 12 Robert L. Johnson, President