Roy M. Beller, D.C., 57th Keeler Recipient

Dr. Roy M. Beller was born in Harlingen, Texas on May 3, 1933.  He was the first son of Dr. M. S. and Dorothea Beller.  Dr. Roy Beller joined a large chiropractic family consisting of his grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, younger brother and nephew.

He attended Palmer College and St. Ambrose College, and then  transferred to Texas Chiropractic College and San Antonio College.  He finished in three years, being one of the first to obtain six years of college in three years and received one of the first basic science certificates by completing the required course with a 75 or higher grade.

He married the lovely Martha Boyle and they have a son and daughter.  Dr. Roy’s mother and wife have both received the Ladies Auxiliary Woman of the Year and the prestigious Kennedy Award.  As you can see, he has a very strong chiropractic family. 

Walter R. Rhodes, D.C., 56th Keeler Recipient

Dr. Walter R. Rhodes was born July 27, 1932 in Ft. Worth, Texas.  He attended Polytechnic High School in Ft. Worth and upon graduation studied Chemistry at Harding College in Search, Arkansas and Memphis State University in Memphis, Tennessee.

After serving in the U.S. Army he determined that he wished to pursue chiropractic as a lifetime career and upon discharge he enrolled in the Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio, Texas.  He graduated as a Salutatorian from the Texas Chiropractic College in December of 1959.

In the latter part of 1959 Dr. Julius Trolio, President of the Texas Chiropractic College and Dr. William Harper, Dean of T.C.C. asked Dr. Walter Rhodes to go and take the Texas Basic Science Certificate Examination even though he already had a Basic Science Certificate by exemption because of his high grade levels in the courses involved.  This was during the time when the American Medical Association was actively engaged in “Educating the Public”, about the chiropractors lack of education, a contention proved beyond doubt when the A.M.A. was found guilty of violating the Sherman Anti-trust law of the United States in 1987.

The test was taken by 159 candidates, all of them Osteopaths or Medical Doctors except for Walter Rhodes.  There were fifty-two failures.  Dr. Rhodes paced either first, second or third.  They would give the T.C.C. officials no more information than that.  Dr. Walter Rhodes was the very first chiropractor to pass the Basic Science Examination in Texas.  This was only the beginning of firsts for him.

Fred G. Leon, D.C., 55th Keeler Recipient

I was born July 2, 1928 in Mishawaka, Indiana, the first son of Fred G. and Barbara (Dallas) Leon.  At the age of 3 months, my parents moved to Harlingen, Texas.  While on a family outing on Memorial Day weekend in 1930 my younger brother Jack was born.  In July 1935 my mother married Dr. Chas. L. Andrus, a pioneer Chiropractor.  He graduated from Carver Chiropractic College in 1906.  Immediately prior to the wedding; we moved to Kingsville, Texas where Dr. Andrus set up practice.  In October 1936 my sister Mary was born.

I attended public school in Kingsville and graduated from High School in 1946.  In September of 1946 I entered the U.S. Air Force and served three years as a Musician in the 661st Airfare Band in Dayton, Ohio.  In March of 1947 my stepfather Dr. Chas. Andrus passed away.  The stories that he told about chiropractic and the discussions that were held with other chiropractors that I had the privilege to listen to, plus being raised with chiropractic care made an indelible impression upon me.  

Allen G. Wyche, D.C., 54th Keeler Recipient

If, as it is said, that a man is born to a profession – it should be said that Allen G. Wyche was born to be a chiropractor.

His Mother, Georgianna Tubbs Wyche, the daughter of a medical family (Father and Grandfather) sustained a back injury when she had to jump from the second floor of a burning building.  Shortly after birth of a daughter, Janetta Wyche Town, in early 1920 this injury was further complicated in a car wreck resulting in sterility.  After all sorts of treatments had failed in 1925, on the advice of her father, she started taking adjustments from Dr. A. G. Livingston of Hamilton, Texas.  As a result of those treatments, she improved and was able to give birth to a son – named A. G. Wyche in honor of Dr. Livingston’s treatments.

Seeing the results of chiropractic on his wife, Clifford Allen Wyche decided to dedicate his life to chiropractic.  In 1926 he sold his farm and enrolled in Texas chiropractic College in San Antonio.  Allen G. Wyche was born there on April 6, 1927, while his Father was in College.  He received an adjustment from Dr. J. R. Drain when he was four hours old.

Charles (Chuck) Francis Downing, D.C., 53rd Keeler Recipient

Dr. Charles (Chuck) Francis Downing was born June 21, 1931 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Through the influence of an Erie Chiropractor, Dr. Ole Olson, he was persuaded to seek an education in the chiropractic profession.

Chuck and his brother, Edward, decided to head for Texas and both entered in the September 1950 class at Texas Chiropractic College.

After attending T.C.C. for three years, Chuck transferred and finished his Chiropractic education graduating from Logan Chiropractic College in St. Louis, Missouri.

Upon passing the state boards in Kansas and Pennsylvania, Chuck was called into the Army.  He was a X-ray technician at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.  When he got out of the service, he was enticed to go to mortuary college and joined his brother, Edward who had been operating a mortuary in San Antonio.  Chuck completed his mortuary degree from Commonwealth College in Houston, Texas in 1957 and entered business with his brother.

Oliver R. Smith, Sr., D.C., 52nd Keeler Recipient

I was born in Teneha, Texas, October 26, 1916, on a cotton farm.  Soon my family moved to the west Texas town of Marfa where I grew up and graduated from high School there in 1934, and I participated in Tennis, Football, and track.  I grew up in the Jail in Marfa.  My stepfather was Sheriff for 16 years and we had a ranch 35 miles south of the town.  When we were not in school we had to work in town or be at the ranch.

How I became a Doctor of Chiropractic is a long story.  I wanted to be a rancher but that was not profitable and my parents said “no” to that.  Since I worked in a Drug store after school I decided I would be a druggist.  I went to the University of Texas in Austin in 1934 and ‘35 and to Sul Ross in ‘35 and ‘36.  I was most unhappy at that endeavor.  Then I met a young Doctor of Chiropractic on a picnic.  I asked him questions about his profession and he was excited about his work, what he did and the results he was getting.  The next day I went to his office and asked for something to read.  Soon I had made up my mind that I wanted to be a Doctor of Chiropractic.  I left Sul Ross and went to the Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio.  I graduated in 1938.  I have been an enthusiastic Doctor of Chiropractic ever since.

Charles E. Walker, D.C., 51st Keeler Recipient

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, November 11, 1912.  I spent my boyhood years on a farm in Effingham County, Illinois.  I graduated from Clay County High School.

My first experience with chiropractic care happened just before I reached my sixth birthday.  I had just been operated on for acute appendicitis when I developed a near fatal infection after the surgery.  Following the infection and high fever I went into a condition diagnosed as St. Vitus Dance.  This was in 1918 and my parents consulted our family medical doctor and then took me to a specialist in St. Louis, Missouri.  They were informed that there was no known treatment to help me.  They then took me to a Chiropractor in Mattoon, Illinois.  That wonderful Doctor of Chiropractic just went to work on me not knowing there was not a known cure and soon had me feeling better and cured me of St. Vitus Dance.

After reaching adulthood, I decided to enter the building trades.  I studied hard and decided to become an Ironworker.  I soon became a member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Ironworkers Union.

I fell forty two feet from a three story building in 1937, landing on my head and left shoulder.  I was unconscious from five o’clock that afternoon until eight the next morning.  After this fall I developed severe migraine headaches and digestive disorders.  I sought the services of a chiropractor and was treated and realized the wonderful results of Chiropractic care for my injuries and disorders.

Bill Timberlake, D.C., 50th Keeler Recipient

Biography not available 

Herbie G. McMennamy, D.C., 49th Keeler Recipient

I was born in a small community near Paris, Texas, to parents with six children … all girls.  My family moved to Lubbock, Texas when I was six years of age.  Elementary and high school years were spent at Slaton, just south of Lubbock.

My first experience with Chiropractic came as a result of physical problems following the birth of my first child.  A long time family friend insisted that I consult a D.C. in order to avoid surgery.  Needless to say, the results were successful, and created my desire to study this great science.

I attended Texas Chiropractic College, in San Antonio, and San Antonio College at the same time, receiving my D.C. degree in 1945.  About this time, I met and married an old school mate who had been discharged from the U.S. Navy after World War II.  He had a positive experience with Chiropractic care and decided to attend T.C.C. under the G. I. Bill, graduating in 1949.  Together we set up practice of Chiropractic in Amarillo, and have enjoyed a successful practice ever since.

Sam Daniels, D.C., 48th Keeler Recipient

 Biography not available.

1990

• The Wilk trials and appeals continued from 1976 until 1990, when the US Supreme Court refused to take up AMA appeals to overturn the favorable chiropractic ruling.

1989

The Keeler Award for 1989 was presented to Walter Rhodes, D.C.

John Martin is named the fifty-third President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

1988

The Keeler Award for 1988 was awarded to  Fred G. Leon, D.C.

George Aubert is named the fifty-second President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

1987

The Keeler Award for 1987 was presented to Allen Wyche, D.C.

The fifty-first President of the Texas Chiropractic Association, J. P. Johnston, serves a second term.

1986

 The Keeler Award for 1986 was awarded to Charles Downing, D.C.

J. P. Johnston is named the fifty-first President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

1985

The Keeler Award for 1985 was awarded to Oliver Smith, D.C.

The fiftieth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association, Oliver R. Smith, Jr., serves a second term.

1984

The Keeler Award for 1984 was awarded to Charley Walker, D.C.

Oliver R. Smith, Jr. is named the fiftieth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

1983

The Keeler Award for 1983 was awarded to Bill Timberlake, D.C.

The forty-ninth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association, Don H. Handley, serves a second term.

1982

 The Keeler Award for 1982 was presented to Herbie McMannamy, D.C.

Don H. Handley is named the forty-ninth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

1981

• The Wilks v AMA plaintiffs lost at the first trial in 1981, but obtained a new trial on appeal in 1983.