Max Vige, D.C., 91st Keeler Recipient

Born and raised in Eunice, LA. We were a family of four. My parents (Ernie & Betty) and my younger brother (Andre). My dad was in the oil & gas industry, so outside of school, sports, or family obligations we often followed him to Houston or parts of east Texas while he was overseeing drilling and exploration operations. When visiting on drilling sites, we fished, shot BB guns, and played cards most of our days. Houston trips allowed for Oiler and Astros games, Houston Rodeo, bowling, family pool halls, museums, car shows, etc. Being from a small town was great, but experiencing some of Houston’s offerings always felt like a continuous vacation.

My mom said she introduced me to chiropractic as a baby while I was suffering with asthma. She said after two adjustments the asthma was gone. I obviously do not recall the visits, but my mom told everyone about it. My earliest memories of chiropractic were tagging along with my mom to her treatments. She suffered chronic headaches, and Dr. Carl Turk would adjust her and the headaches would be all better. My first personal experience that I do recall was in high school. While playing football, two of my teammates rolled over my ankle. Two months later it was still a problem even after rehabbing. My mom and head coach convinced me to go to see the family chiropractor (Dr. Joe Turk) and on one visit the pain was totally relieved. At that moment I was hooked on chiropractic care.

Tyce Hergert, D.C., 90th Keeler Recipient

How did my chiropractic journey begin? My first memory of chiropractic was being adjusted, along with my whole family, by Dr Jerry Whitehead at about the age of 6 or 7. I watched my dad literally crawl into his office and walk out what seemed like minutes later. A few years later, dad was told by a neurosurgeon to go home and do a month of bed rest, and if he didn’t improve, they would do surgery. After about 2 days in bed, he decided he’d go back to the chiropractor and has been under chiropractic care ever since. As a boy, I remember my mom writing a check to pay for chiropractic care for the family, then going to the boot repair shop to pay for his services and smarting off “ …if one of you could become a chiropractor and the other a boot repair man, we’d have it made”. 

In high school, I injured my knee, and at the persistence of my grandmother (a retired RN and daughter of an osteopath who was run out of town in the early days), I saw her chiropractor for the knee (ok...she put me in her car, told me shut up, marched me in there.) Dr. Kevin Walcher proceeded to educate me on how my knee worked, what was wrong, and how he’d seen 14-year-olds heal without surgery. “Mema, what the heck does a chiropractor know about a knee?” Again, she encouraged me to shut up and see what happened. She wasn’t wrong. I set out to explore this whole healthcare career idea. I visited with our osteopath for a few days. When I asked him “if (he) had to start over and do it all again, would you?” He said he felt like a glorified drug dealer in a long white coat and said that he’d probably have chosen plastics or something that was a little more rewarding than what his practice had become. At least he was honest.

Karen Campion-Brown, D.C., 89th Keeler Recipient

Biography not yet available.

Craig Benton, D.C., 88th Keeler Recipient

Born June 2, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I grew up in a suburb and really had a great young life. Two parents and one brother. My dad was brought up dirt poor and with the GI Bill became a mechanical engineer for Westinghouse Nuclear Power. Seems that at an early age I had to defend what my dad did because of the controversy surrounding nuclear power. It was a sign of things to come.  

Played football a few years in high school but I was not particularly good and hurt my knees. So, I got none of the glory but all the pain. In high school I met a girl, Donna Marie Santini, who would later become my wife. Took several years for the Benton charm to kick in but it finally did. 

In the summer of 1976, my Uncle Steve passed away. He had had a knee replacement surgery and the first time on his feet was when he was released to go home. Well, he collapsed after walking into his house from a blood clot that broke loose and he died instantly.  He died on my mom’s, his sisters, birthday. So that was a tragic event for my family that I remember vividly. My mom’s mother also suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I remember my mom and Uncles talking about how the medication really killed my grandmother. In high school I was introduced to Bill Churma whose dad Dr. Steve Churma was a successful chiropractor in our town. He had a new house built and had one room with just a Zenith Hi Lo table in it so he could treat his family at home. I had always wanted to be in healthcare and with the bad incidents my family had suffered from medicine I saw what chiropractic was about and just gravitated to the chiropractic profession.

 

Scott Wofford, D.C., 87th Keeler Recipient

Dr. Scott Wofford was born in 1962 to Judy and Dale Wofford in Jones County Texas. He has two brothers, Mark Wofford and Greg Wofford.

Scott graduated from Hawley High school. He then pursued his athletic dream by playing football at Abilene Christian University. After completing his pre-chiropractic studies, he moved forward with his dream of becoming a doctor of chiropractic.

Scott began his studies at Parker College of Chiropractic, and in 1989 Received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. The Lord led Scott to return back to his roots in West Texas to set up his practice in Abilene.

His education also includes a Master in Physical Therapy and a Fellowship in Acupuncture.

Scott met his wife Karla in Kindergarten class. They married in 1985, a year before Scott began his studies at Parker College of Chiropractic. They were blessed wtih two children, Justin Wofford (Hannah) and Sarah Wofford.

James E. Welch, D.C., 86th Keeler Recipient

Dr. James Welch Jr graduated from Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas in 1983, where he was honored the Outstanding Intern Award and was Department Head of X-ray.

Before moving his practice to Beaumont, Dr. Welch was in private practice in Lumberton, Texas for thirteen years specializing in chronic muscle and joint pain, chiropractic pediatrics and personal injury cases.

Dr. Welch has attended many specialized post-graduate classes and has attained certificates in Spinal Impairment Rating, Sports Injuries, Work-related Injuries, and Soft Tissue Injuries as they pertain to "whiplash" trauma.

He is a past president of the Southeast Texas Traffic Safety Task Force, he is also a member of the American Chiropractic Association.

In 1997, Dr. Welch was awarded the President's Award for his outstanding work as Education Chairman for the TCA.

Dr. Welch has served at the local district level and at the state level for the Texas Chiropractic Association. He was the President for the Texas Chiropractic Association in 2000-2001 and 2015-16.

William E. Morgan, D.C., 85th Keeler Recipient

Dr. Morgan has a long history of serving in military healthcare. At age 17, he joined the Navy and served with an elite Marine Recon company as a hospital corpsman. During that time, he qualified in parachuting, military diving, submarine insertion, jungle warfare, combat swimming, explosives, mountaineering, winter warfare and Arctic survival. Additionally, he attended anti-terrorist training at the FBI Academy. After leaving active military service and transferring to the Navy Reserves, Dr. Morgan began his educational journey to become a doctor of chiropractic. While at Palmer College of Chiropractic-West, he transferred to a Naval Special Warfare platoon as the unit’s primary hospital corpsman. He was sent to Special Operations Technician training to learn the principles of dive medicine. For the next eight years, he served as a dive medicine corpsman/combat swimmer for a platoon of Navy frogmen in Naval Special Warfare Unit One. 

In 1985, Dr. Morgan received his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic–West and soon after, married fellow Palmer graduate, Clare Pelkey. They practiced for thirteen years in California. In 1998, Dr. Morgan was chosen to establish the first chiropractic clinic at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, which later became Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In 2015, Walter Reed recognized Dr. Morgan with its highest honor for clinical excellence, the Master Clinician’s Award. During his 18 years at the military’s most prestigious medical centers, he practiced in an integrative setting, providing chiropractic care to the injured troops returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Larry Montgomery, D.C., 84th Keeler Recipient

I was born on December 27, 1956 to Merlon and Flossy Montgomery.  We lived in Breckenridge, Texas.  My father often told of how before he left for WWII, he and mom wanted a boy, in case he did not return, and were fortunate to have Merlon, Jr. just before he was shipped to the Pacific.  Thankful for his return, they then wanted a girl and Merlene was born a year after he took off his Navy Seabees uniform.  Approximately 10 years after Merlene, dad said mom decided they wanted another child and “didn’t care what they got that time”.  After hearing my father tell this story about 50 times, one day I said, “Well dad, that is what you get when you are not specific with your goal setting!”

Unfortunately, mom died of an apparent CVA when I was 15 months old and for two years, my brother and sister raised me, while dad used his “SeaBee skills” to build drive-in and in-door theaters across the five (5) state area.  In 1954, he remodeled the “Beltonian Theater” in Belton, Texas and fell in love with the central location, area lakes and hill country.  This led to our family moving to Belton in 1968, where I completed elementary, Jr. High and High School, graduating in May of 1975.  Sports, girls and cars were my only interest at this time (not necessarily in that order), and I was pretty much without purpose, but little did I know, God was already working for my good, in sleepy little Belton, Texas.

My first introduction to chiropractic may give credence to the thoughts of many.  I was playing baseball with two of my friends at age four.  There were no “whiffle balls” or “plastic bats”; we played with the real thing!  When one of the friends somehow hit my fast ball, he threw the bat as he ran to first base.  Even though I was in shock that he hit my “heater”, I bent to field the ball as the bat struck me in the top of my head.  I continued to play, but the next morning I could not move my neck.  It must have been a Wednesday or Thursday, but we tried aspirin and heat rub until my dad came home on Friday night.  Saturday morning, he put a cut down piece of plywood in the back of the Mercury and they drove me 30 miles to Albany, Texas where there as a chiropractor we heard was not as “rough” as the one in Breckenridge.  In one visit, I could move my head and neck, and it is reported I “adjusted” my Teddy Bear and Chimpanzee for a month or more after the visit!

Franz Klein, D.C., 83rd Keeler Recipient

 Biography not yet available.

Christopher G. Dalrymple, D.C., 82nd Keeler Recipient

I am a product of chiropractic. Further, I am a legacy of Keeler doctors G. M. and Richard Brassard and, indirectly, of Dr. Jim Parker. 

The Doctors Brassard were my childhood chiropractic doctors and Dr. Parker indirectly influenced my life because it was his clinic in Beaumont, Texas to which G. M. Brassard came to practice Chiropractic.

Without the chiropractic profession I may not have come into being.

 

Chiropractic originated in 1895. It began its growth as a profession in 1898 to 1901 after D. D. Palmer began to teach others about the science and art that he discovered. My maternal grandparents were born in 1898 and 1899 and I am told that my grandfather desired to enter the profession of chiropractic but his circumstances would not permit it to be so. He was able, however, to permit two of his three sons to attend the Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio to enter the profession. 

Jeffery L. Brown, D.C., 81st Keeler Recipient

I was born in 1954, Baltimore, MD., the oldest of 3 children to Norman and Mary Ann Brown.  My father was an Electrical Engineer with Westinghouse Electric and my mother left the workforce to be a full-time mom during our childhood years.  Our family moved to Williamsville, N.Y. when I was 7 years old and I attended elementary, middle, and high school there, playing trumpet in various bands, piano, working in the school audio video crews, learning photography, and was a member of the high school rifle team.

My first exposure to chiropractic occurred around age 10 when we went to see the neighborhood chiropractor, Dr. Jay Jerald.  I remember him always telling us he was “getting the mice out,” which seemed odd to my brothers, and I and grew curious what he was really doing.  During my sophomore year in high school my grandfather returned from Europe on crutches, apparently having been hospitalized for an extended period with “no known cure” for his ailment.  Within a week after seeing Dr. Jay, his crutches were in the closet and he was feeling much better.  This prompted me to ask Dr. Jay about what he did and how it worked, which led to several discussions.  Sensing my interest, he volunteered to write a recommendation letter to his Alma Mater, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) when I was ready to study chiropractic.

Kenneth Tomlin, Jr., D.C., 80th Keeler Recipient

I was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on Friday morning, November 27, 1942, early enough that my Dad, Kenneth Tomlin, could arrive on time at his job at a defense plant during the middle of World War II.  He was proud to have a healthy son and also glad to contribute another full day to the war effort.  On reflection, I think I was off to a good start.

My parents, Kenneth and Hope (Pitts) Tomlin, of Van Zandt County, Texas, later settled in Tyler, Texas, a beautiful East Texas city known as the Rose Capitol of the World for the many varieties of roses grown locally.  Just a few years later, my older sister Kay and I were joined by our baby brother Tommy and our family was complete.

Tyler was a great city to grow up in.  Good schools, parks, people and only about thirty-five miles away from the farm that my Dad’s parents owned.  This land, now mine, has been in the Tomlin family since just after the Civil War, and for me this is a peaceful place to be.

John M. Nash, D.C., 79th Keeler Recipient

I was born December 18, 1930 and raised in Galveston, Tx. and graduated from Ball High School in 1948.  Participated in basketball and baseball receiving an offer from the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950, but could not sign a contract since I was 1A in the military draft.  In November of 1952, I was drafted into the US Army and served 2 years, being honorably discharged in November of 1954.  While in the Army I played baseball for the Ft. Sam Rangers and was part of the 1954 4th Army champion Rangers.

While playing for the Rangers our catcher had injured his back and was not responding to any of the medical therapies.  He was treated by Dr. Bonaminio, a chiropractor in San Antonio, and finally found relief.  His recovery and return to baseball was instrumental to the success of the Rangers.  I was so impressed with this that my career choice became more apparent.  Having the experience of Major League competition during Army baseball it became “reasonably apparent” that my career would be “more prosperous” in another area than professional baseball.  So the decision to enter chiropractic practice was somewhat dictated.

George Aubert, D.C., 78th Keeler Recipient

 Autobiography not currently available.

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.