Earl W. Renfroe facts for kids
Earl Wiley Renfroe (born January 9, 1907 – died November 14, 2000) was a very important person in the world of orthodontics. Orthodontics is the special field of dentistry that deals with straightening teeth. Dr. Renfroe was also known for helping to break down barriers of racism in his profession.
He taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry for many years, starting in 1933. People thought he was one of the best teachers for hands-on orthodontics in the world. He also helped write an important article about how to prevent and fix teeth problems early on. In Brazil, many people see him as one of the "fathers of orthodontics" because of his influence there.
Quick facts for kids
Dr.
Earl Wiley Renfroe
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| Born | January 9, 1907 |
| Died | November 14, 2000 (aged 93) |
| Burial place | Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA |
| Occupation | Dentist |
| Spouse(s) | Hilda Forte |
| Children | 3 |
| Honours | Distinguished Alumnus Award, UIC Dental Alumni Association in 1988 Chicago Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 1990 |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Earl Renfroe was born in Chicago on January 9, 1907. His parents were Eugene and Bertha. He had two siblings, Hazel and Everett.
He finished Austin O. Sexton Grammar School in 1921. Then, he graduated from Bowen High School (Chicago) in 1924. At Bowen High, he became the first African American student to lead the Cadet Commander group in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which is a military training program.
Dr. Renfroe also studied at Crane Junior College before dental school. He became the first student at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry to work full-time while taking a full load of classes. He worked nights at the post office. He earned his Master of Science degree in 1931 and joined the UIC Dentistry faculty in 1932.
In 1934, he made history again. He became the first African American in Illinois to get a commercial pilot's license. He was only the third person in the whole country to do so. Later, he even worked as an inspector for the Illinois Aeronautics Commission.
Dental and Military Career
When Dr. Renfroe joined the faculty at the UIC College of Dentistry, he changed an unfair rule. Before him, students were only allowed to treat patients of the same race as themselves. Dr. Renfroe made sure all students could treat any patient, no matter their race.
He became a certified orthodontist in Illinois in 1948. Then, he was certified by the American Board of Orthodontics in 1955. He was believed to be one of the first African Americans in Illinois to become a specialist in orthodontics.
During World War II, Dr. Renfroe served in the United States Army. He was the chief dental officer in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. After the war, he returned to teaching. He stayed in the U.S. Army Reserves and retired as a colonel in 1968. He had also joined the Illinois National Guard in 1932 and became a general in 1984.
In 1950, Dr. Renfroe opened his own office in Chicago's "Loop" (the downtown area). He was the first African American orthodontist to have an office there. He was also the only African American professional in any field to have an office in Chicago's busy downtown at that time. He was a member of several dental groups, including the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists.
In 1966, Dr. Renfroe became the head of the Department of Orthodontics at UIC College of Dentistry. He was also the president of the Chicago Association of Orthodontics.
Breaking Barriers for African Americans
Dr. Earl Renfroe was a true pioneer. In 1966, he became the first African American to lead a department at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. This was a very important step forward.
He was also the first African American orthodontist to open an office in the downtown Loop area of Chicago. Plus, he was the first African American in Illinois to get a commercial pilot's license.
International Influence
In the late 1950s, Dr. Renfroe started traveling to give talks about orthodontics. He taught in nine different countries, including Brazil. He was the first U.S. dentist to be invited back to Brazil seven times. In Brazil, he is known as one of "the fathers of orthodontics." When he was first invited, he learned Portuguese so he could teach in the dentists' own language.
He also gave many lectures in Argentina. Once, he was in Buenos Aires during a revolution in the 1950s. In 1964, he taught a two-week course for 24 students there.
Dr. Renfroe also visited Barbados 30 times. Today, a dental facility there is named after him.
Published Works
Dr. Renfroe wrote many articles about orthodontics. These articles appeared in important journals like the American Journal of Orthodontics. In 1957, he co-wrote an article about preventing and fixing teeth problems early. In 1960, his textbook, Technique Training in Orthodontics, was published.
Honors and Hobbies
In 1963, Dr. Renfroe became a fellow of the American College of Dentistry. In 1988, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UIC Dental Alumni Association. Two years later, he was added to the Chicago Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the honorary dental group Omicron Kappa Upsilon and the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Besides dentistry, Dr. Renfroe had many other interests. He loved flying and aeronautics. Both he and his wife, Anna Renfroe, were licensed pilots. In 1936, Dr. Renfroe had a special transport license, which only two other pilots had at the time. His wife had a limited license. His other hobbies included amateur radio, shooting, model trains, and SCUBA diving. He was also involved in several community groups.
Personal Life
Dr. Renfroe was married to Hilda Forte, who passed away in 2000. They had two children, Stephen and Diane. Dr. Renfroe also had a son, Earl Renfroe Jr., from an earlier marriage to Anna Rosetta Lawson Renfroe. Dr. Renfroe is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
