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

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T0 THE AlUM I,SlUUl IS D FHH DS UF THE SEH00l Ut Di DR. CLARENCE R. DECKER President, University of Kansas City When on Iuly l, 1941, the Board of Trustees of the University of Kansas City and of the Kansas City- Western Dental College decided that the time was appropriate for the union of the two institutions, their decision met with enthusiastic approval in the com- munity leaders have dreamed of a great university lor dissenting voice was heard. The reason for this happy state of affairs lies deep in the history of higher educa- tion in Kansas City. For more than sixty years civic groups and com- munity and throughout the country. Indeed. no Kansas City. That dream was given tangible form in 1933 when the University of Kansas City was formally opened. Likewise, for more than sixty years leaders in dental education have sought generously and devotedly to serve the vital professional and educational needs of this section of the country in the field of dentistry through the Kansas City-Western Dental College and its predecessors. No small credit for their remarkable success is due to the imagination and executive ability of your Dean. Dr. Roy Iames Rinehart, who is this year completing thirty years of service. It was natural, once the University was actually TISTRY founded, that educators and the community should take for granted that the Kansas City-Western Dental College would, at an appropriate time, become an integral part of the University. This belief was logical and, indeed, inevitable. During the time that studies looking forward to this union were under way, it became my respon- sibility to study all of the aspects of the proposal. These studies assured me that the Kansas City-Western Dental College ranked among the highest of such institutions throughout the country. The responsible officers of various national dental associations further assured me of their utmost confidence in the school and of its tremendous possibilities for the future. They urged upon me the wisdom of uniting the forces of our two institu- tions. When the union was consummated last summer hundreds of congratulatory letters-from community leaders, from alumni, from the leadina dentists and dental educators of the country-poured in upon us. That is why we are all delighted that the Kansas City- Western Dental College has become the School of Dentistry of the University of Kansas City. The union of the two institutions adds a second professional school to the University-a School with a nationally recog- nized faculty, with a large and successful body of alumni in all states and nations of the world, and with a curriculum that has integrated itself easily and appro- priately into the larger disciplines of the University. On its part, the University brings to the Dental College the strength of its resources in men and in material facilities. It likewise offers the broad and rich opportunities inherent in the University's purposes and activities. The School of Dentistry, now associated intimately with the School of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences. must inevitably broaden and deepen the study of the practices, problems, and philosophy of dentistry. Its purpose, like that of the University, is to produce men not only able in professional practice but also students of the problems of the profession who will continue throughout life to investigate and to reflect on the full meaning and significance of the profession in the social order. It is no small honor for me to be your president. This association with your alumni, students, faculty, and friends places upon me a large, if pleasant, respon- sibility. All of us, I feel sure. may look forward to the years ahead with deep satisfaction in the new achieve- ments that must come to the Kansas City-Western Dental College, now the School of Dentistry of the University of Kansas City. -DR. CLARENCE R. DECKER. Page Thirteen

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ADMINISTRATION AND LAW The Administration and Law Building 119123, a four cmd one-half story fire-proof structure of French Renaissance architectural design, built oi native stone, houses the administrative offices of the University, the School of Law, the central Uni- versity Lounge, and the Book Store.

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BUAIIII Ill ll! These four men, together with the University trustees, completed the merger of Kansas City Western Dental College with the University of Kansas City. RALPH L. ADAMS, LL.B. Chairman Mr. Adams serves as trust offi- cer ot the city's largest bank and trust company. IISTIES in ROY IAMES RINEHABT. D.D.S., F.A.C.D. Secretary Dr. Rinehart is the Dean of the school and is an internationally known teacher of dentistry. GEORGE P MELCHER AB AM LLD Vice Chairman Mr Melcher the vice chairman is the Super1ntendentEmentus of the Public Schools of Kansas City Years of contact with the teaching profession have served to give him a detcnled knowledge of the art of instruction. WENDELL H. CLOUD, LL.B. Council One of the leading lawyers in Missouri. Page Fourteen