A New Millennium Dawns, a Summary Overview

The new millennium dawns in 2001.   Terrorists destroy the World Trade Center in New York City, damage the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and crash a jet liner into a field in Pennsylvania on September 11.  A War on Terror is declared.

Also in 2001 the first 9000 chiropractic licenses have been issued, and the TCA is actively included and consulted in legislative negotiations regarding the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission overhaul compromise bill HB2600.

In response to threats to the profession in June 2002, the TCA files lawsuit against the University Interscholastic League for discrimination against chiropractors by prohibiting them from performing and signing school physicals.  TCA also files a lawsuit against the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission for discriminatory regulations against the chiropractic profession regarding their use of Designated Doctors. The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners is sued in a class action lawsuit regarding Chiropractic facility registrations.

A Judge issues a temporary injunction against the UIL in favor of the TCA and trial date is set for fall of 2002.  The TCA successfully endorsed candidates in 94% of Senate elections, is neutral in 3% of the races, 87% of House winners endorsed, neutral in 9%. Overall Legislative elections are 89% of the winners, neutral in 8%, and wrong in only 3% of the election results.

TCA Sues UIL (August 2002, Texas Journal of Chiropractic), a Brief History

A July 2012 article in the Texas Medical Association’s Texas Medicine noted that: 

“Current UIL guidelines require pre-participation physical examinations at least before junior high school and in the first and third years of high school.”

“In 2002, the UIL Medical Advisory Committee recommended removing chiropractors from the list of health care professionals who could perform the exams. Mark Cousins, PhD, director of athletics for UIL, says that followed a legal opinion from the Attorney General's office.”

"The rule at that time said it [the physical exam form] was to be signed by a physician," Dr. Cousins said. "There continued to be questions about whether a chiropractor qualified as a physician. So we got an unofficial opinion from our lawyer, who was an assistant attorney general, and he concluded that a chiropractor did not meet the definition of a physician."

“The Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA), however, successfully sued to block the change in UIL rules. At the time, TCA argued that chiropractors are qualified to perform the physicals and that UIL lacks the authority to decide which health care professionals could perform them.”

Dan Petrosky, D.C., 77th Keeler Recipient

Dr. Dan Mitchell Petrosky was born May 25, 1951, in Fort Stockton, Texas  to Lee Edward Petrosky, Sr. and Betty Jean Petrosky.

Dan met his wife Bunny Petrosky his senior year of high school. They got married 3 years later in 1971, in El Paso, TX.  He graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic  from Texas Chiropractic College in 1976. 

Dan was a treasured member of several West Texas community organizations in El Paso, Marfa and Alpine. Over the years he served in many leadership roles, including Texas Chiropractic Association, Lions Club and Big Bend Shooting Foundation. Dan loved the outdoors. He loved fishing, hunting, and so much more, but most of all he loved his 16 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Dr. Dan Mitchell Petrosky, Sr. age 71 passed away peacefully on October 19, 2022, surrounded by his beloved wife and family.  He is survived by his loving wife Bunny Petrosky, his children Evelyn Petrosky, Dan Mitchell Petrosky, Jr. (Rosella Petrosky), Christy Petrosky (Christopher Mayes), Dale Petrosky (T.J. Petrosky) and Jacque Petrosky. Also, his siblings Patricia Miller, Judy Anderson, Oralia Ahmad (Masood Ahmad) and Lee Petrosky Jr. (Lulu Petrosky). He is preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Betty Jean Petrosky, and sister Betty Norman.

He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. Services were scheduled for  December 3rd at 2pm at Grace Christian Fellowship, 801 E. Brown St, Alpine, TX 79830.

Richard Gillespie, D.C., 76th Keeler Recipient

 Autobiography not currently available.

Michael R. Martin, D.C., 75th Keeler Recipient

Autobiography not currently available.

Cynthia S. Vaughn, D.C., 74th Keeler Recipient

I was born on November 19, 1957 in Las Cruces, NM, while my father was a rock scientist for NASA, working on the famous “White Sands Project.”  he was only stationed there for six weeks, but as luck would have it, I decided to enter the world with a “bang” of my own during that brief window of time.

Thereafter, and because my father was a federal government employee, we relocated on an almost yearly basis.  As difficult as that was at the time, I think this annual “social adjustment” I underwent helped develop my personality, and to a great extent, shaped me into who I am today.

Kevin E. Raef, D.C., 73rd Keeler Recipient

I was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1957.  I was the 12th child to my parents, Lewie and Reba Raef.  I was raised in the small rural community of Umbrage.  My dad was a fuel distributor for Diamond Shamrock, as well as, a master electrician and plumber.  My mom was a homemaker and the best baker of pies, cakes and cinnamon rolls I have ever known.

I attended Umbrage Elementary through the 6th grade and then I attended Canyon Junior High and High School graduating in 1975.  I played football and ran track for Canyon High.  I was named the most valued senior in athletics.  I also sang in the choir and played bass guitar for the show choir.

After graduation from high school, I was uncertain as to what direction my life was to go.  I became employed at the Amarillo State Center for the mentally handicapped in the recreation department.  I also continued my music career by providing entertainment in the local nightclubs.

Kenneth Perkins, DC, 72nd Keeler Recipient

I was born in Akron, Ohio on February 6, 1952.  I still don’t know that I have forgiven my parents, Mack and Marjorie Perkins, for leaving the south.  When I was four they saw the error of their ways and moved back to their home state of Mississippi.  After developing a horrible case of asthma I finally made it to Texas at the age of seven.  One may think that I was exposed to chiropractic care to help with my asthma.  My mother was an RN and my dad was the head of a medical lab.  So I was not exposed to chiropractic until I worked with a TCC student named Larry Dodds.  It just so happened that we had moved to Pasadena, where one of only fourteen chiropractic colleges on the continent was located.

Dale I. White, Jr, D.C., 71st Keeler Recipient

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia on October 11, 1951 to my parents Dale and Gerry White.  When I was four my father was transferred to New York.  My father was an airline pilot and my mother was a housewife.  In two years we were transferred to Ft. Worth, Texas and I have lived there ever since.  I graduated from the Carroll High School in 1969 and attended North Texas State University. 

After that I played golf on the European Golf Tour.  While playing in Europe I injured my back and that ended my golf career.  My mother took me to see Dr. Frank Doyle and he treated my back until I was well.  After talking to Dr. Doyle I entered Texas Chiropractic College and graduated in 1979.  I have practiced in Ft. Worth, Texas ever since.  I am married and have six children.

In 1990 I was the recipient of the Young Chiropractor Award by Texas Chiropractic Association.  I have always been active in the Texas chiropractic Association holding positions on the Board of Directors and as an on Executive officer.  I was president of the Association from 1995 – 1997.

P. A. Willmon Jr., D.C., 70th Keeler Recipient

I was born May 22, 1941, in Spur, Dickens County, Texas.  My parents were Pinkney Augusta and Bertha Ann Cooper Willmon.  I was the oldest of their children.  I have two older half siblings, and three younger siblings.  I grew up on the family farm at Afton, Texas.  I attended Patton Springs Schools.  Dad rented the Cotton land out.  He had a dairy and we raised hay for the cattle and sheep.  We raised Sudan Seed and sold each spring.  In school I was active in 4H and FFA.  I had show sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens and fairly heifers.  We hoed cotton in the summer and pulled cotton in the fall.

After high school, I attended Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio graduating in 1965.  The last class to graduate from TCC in San Antonio.  I also attended South Plains Jr. College and San Antonio College.

Walter Brzozowske, D.C., 69th Keeler Recipient

Married Sharon Vitopil in 1965 and we have two daughters; Denise and Lori.  Denise is a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse with a Bachelors in nursing and married to Steven Sanders, J.D. an attorney in San Antonio, Texas.  They have three children, Andrew, Allison, and Austin.  Lori has Bachelors in Elementary Education and is married to Scott Rodgers, who has a Bachelor in Business.  They have twin daughters Kylie and Gracen.  He is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.

Dr. Brzozowske went into private practice in Victoria, Texas, April 1, 1967.  In 1979 started post-graduate studies in Orthopedics, and earned his Diplomate in Orthopedics October 30, 1982 and Fellow in Orthopedics, November 15, 1983.  

George L. Gossage, D.C., 68th Keeler Recipient

George Gossage was born on June 21, 1925, in Drumwright, Oklahoma, the fourth child in a family of six boys.  He grew up in central Arkansas.  The woods and streams delighted him and he became an ardent hunter and fisherman.

The urgent call of the U.S. Navy and World War II took George far from his beloved woods and streams.  From 1942 to 1945 he was stationed at San Diego Naval Training Camp, the San Diego Hospital Corps School, the Naval Hospital at Mare Island, the Physiotherapy Tech School and at the Naval Training Base in Farragut, Idaho.  George was stationed at Puget Sound Naval Base in Seattle, Washington, and then to APA191 Troop Transport USS Pondera on which he participated in the landing on Okinawa.  He went from there to China and to Pearl Harbor, the Philippine Islands and Guam.  George served as Pharmacist Mate at St. Albans Naval Hospital in Long Island, New York.

While in the Navy Medical Department he met a chiropractor that was giving amazing physical restorative treatments to severely injured servicemen.  Seeing the great help those injured men received caused George to vow to become a chiropractor.

2010

The Keeler Award for 2010 was awarded to Dan Petrosky, D.C.

Ed Fritsch is named the seventy-second President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

2009

The Keeler Award for 2009 was awarded to Richard Gillespie, D.C. 

Kevin Kanz is named the seventy-first President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

2008

The Keeler Award for 2008 was awarded to Michael R. Martin, D.C.

Greg Nelson is named the seventieth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

2007

The Keeler Award for 2007 was awarded to Cynthia S Vaughn, D.C.

Scott D. Wofford is named the sixty-ninth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

2005

The Keeler Award for 2005 was awarded to Kenneth M. Perkins, D.C.

Bob M. Hollander is named the sixty-seventh President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

2004

 The Keeler Award for 2004 was awarded to Dale L. White Jr., D.C.

Franz E. Klein is named the sixty-sixth President of the Texas Chiropractic Association.

2006

• The AMA announced an industry consortium known as the “Scope of Practice Partnership” (SOPP) that included as one of its founding members the Texas Medical Association (TMA).  That same year the TMA sued the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) asserting a violation of the Texas Constitution in an infringement of the “rights” of the Texas Board of Medical Examiners (TBME). 

• TMA challenged the right of chiropractic doctors to “diagnose” stating that ONLY medical doctors have that right.  

2003

• The TCA’s MGCT study demonstrated cost effectiveness of chiropractic care within the Texas Workers’ Compensation System. 

• A law including chiropractic doctors as those who may be protected from liability when performing voluntary school physical examinations was passed.  

• The UIL reversed its discriminatory policy against chiropractic doctors and chiropractors were again allowed to sign school physical examination forms.