Classes of the 1950s
Tonk Mills (DDS ’55) is no longer flying gliders, but is still playing golf three to five times per week.
David L. Moore (DDS ’55) is 94 years old. He says there were only three in the Class of 1955 who attended the last reunion. Moore enjoyed teaching at the School of Dentistry for more than 50 years. During his time at UMKC, he was honored to be recognized by the Class of 1965 with a faculty award. Moore still enjoys life with his wife of 62 years, Janell. Their two sons and their families live nearby and are blessings in their lives. Moore recalls many happy memories with friends and students in his dental career.
Donald L. Yowell (DDS ’55) is 93 years old and retired. His son, Glenn Yowell (DDS ’86), is practicing in Iowa City, Iowa. Glenn’s son, Andrew, is also a dentist and recently joined the practice.
Classes of the 1960s
Edward J. Lamb (DDS ’60, AEGD ’65) had a private dental practice in Olympia, Washington, from 1972-1994. In the 1980s, he was part of a People to People trip to Europe and Russia with the Washington State Dental Association (WSDA). Lamb and his wife went on to implement the Smilemobile Program with WSDA and Delta Dental from 1996-2000. He’s spent the last 40 years RVing, and the last 25 by motorhome. Lamb turned 90 years old last December and is still playing golf three times a week. He’s going for triple digits in age, and is hoping to still be playing golf by then, too!
Eugene H. Wray (DDS ’60, OMS ’63) says he was published in the 2023-2024 edition of Who’s Who in America.
Robert C. Burns (DDS ’65) retired in 2010, and his son, David R. Burns (DDS ’86), also retired recently. David’s son, Taylor Burns (DDS ’16), is now running the family practice. Robert says he feels lucky and pleased!
George Stewart Roller (DDS ’65) is a retired Naval Reserve Captain after serving 30 years. He’s also a retired California Military Reserve Captain. He spent 18 years active.
Lewis Roller (DDS ’65) is loving retirement – he’s spending his time playing pool, riding his bike and playing bridge.
Patrick D. Shannon (DDS ’65) is retired.
William P. Smith Jr. (DDS ’65) is the author of the book, Growing A Healthy Child: Secrets from A Wise Old Doc and the research article, “Understanding Bruxism, Sleep, and TMD,” published in the February 2024 issue of the Arizona Dental Association Journal Inscriptions. Smith Jr. also gives lectures on the same topic. He sees patients on an as-needed basis, and his practice is limited to the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ and sleep symptoms. Smith and his wife, Anne, enjoy traveling both in the U.S. and internationally.
Classes of the 1970s
Joe (Joseph) Figlino (DDS ’70) enjoyed three careers: dentistry, home building and teaching eighth graders science. His pastimes include woodworking with his grandchildren, building model cars and ships in a bottle and making bowls and pens.
Patrick Hardman (DDS ’70) is retired and enjoys photography and hiking in the Rocky Mountain chain (Canada to New Mexico). He’s climbed all 54 peaks above 14,000 feet in Colorado and has attempted Aconcagua (23,000 feet) in the Andes Mountains of Argentina.
Larry Kanning (DDS ’70) retired in 2018 – and says he doesn’t miss working. He enjoys traveling in his RV. Kanning and his wife, Amy, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in August 2025.
Mark Kreutner (DDS ’75) retired from dentistry in 2013.
Max D. Smith Jr. (DDS ’75, OMS ’80) retired in 2009.
Classes of the 1980s
Terry W. Demaree (DDS ’80) retired from dentistry in 2010, retired from farming in 2021 and now enjoys woodworking. Demaree has three sons (two pharmacists and one cosmetic surgeon) and six grandchildren (four girls and two boys).
William T. Kane (DDS ’80) is still practicing five days a week, volunteering at the Smiles of Hope Clinic, serving on the Missouri Dental Board and enjoying his eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. He says, “life is great!”
Kay Mash (DDS ’80) retired in 2019 from a long teaching career at Baylor College of Dentistry, now the Texas A&M College of Dentistry. She will celebrate 50 years of marriage to Anthony Aragona in December 2026. Their son and daughter-in-law are both dentists in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have three grandchildren – Enzo (10), Luca (8) and Charlotte (6). Their younger son teaches math in Texas. Mash is still working part time as a clinical consultant for MB2 Dental Solutions in Dallas. On dental school, Mash notes that she found the atmosphere difficult, but doesn’t regret the opportunities her education gave her – meeting some of the kindest, most talented and generous people she knows. Mash and her husband renovated a small place in Acireale, Sicily, 10 years ago, and are now in the process of renovating another house nearby. Mash says, “God has richly blessed our family and we are thankful for every day we have left on this earth.”
Thomas A. Nuckols (DDS ’80) is happily retired as of December 2021.
David Greaves (DDS ’85) sold Butler Hill Family Dentistry after 36 years in April 2021 and has been teaching full time as a comprehensive care unit director at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences’ Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health since. His son Matt is studying orthodontics at UMKC and his son Michael is studying endodontics at Southern Illinois University.
Charles Haspels (DDS ’85) is retired.
Mark Mosier (DDS ’85) is happily married and enjoying his grandkids, mountain biking and flying. Mosier is still working with DSOs and says life is good in southern Texas.
Classes of the 1990s
Gilbert Specht (DDS ’90) is retired and is currently working as an options trader.
Stephanie Altenburg (DDS ’95) celebrated 40 years at Barry Road Dental Group in 2023. She worked as an assistant from 1983-95, as an associate from 1995-2004, then was an owner and operator from 2004-21. She then sold her practice to another UMKC graduate and started working as an associate again. She says it’s “crazy to think” she has spent her entire adult life working at the same office. Altenburg is enjoying life immensely. She says, “treating three generations of families is an honor and a blessing.”
Valle Wilhite Rischer (DDS ’95) is still living in Columbia, Missouri, with Jon. They have two kids – Christian, who is 21 and plays golf at Missouri State University, and Audrey, who is 19 and plays golf at The University of Oklahoma.
Classes of the 2000s
Joanne Brown (DDS ’00) loves to travel the world.
Adam DeCota (DDS ’00) was named clinical instructor at the Kois Center in 2022.
Laura Menees-Moore (DDS ’00) sold Menees Family Dentistry, in Prairie Village, Kansas, in 2020 to Alex Clark (DDS ’15). Currently, Menees-Moore is an adjunct professor in the hygiene clinic at Johnson County Community College. Her daughter is set to graduate high school in Spring 2025 and was recently accepted to the University of Kansas’ School of Architecture & Design. Her father, Bob Menees (DDS ’68), lives nearby, and her stepfather, Grant Merritt (DDS ’70, ENDO ’73) recently moved to Laguna Beach, California, and lives by her stepsister.
Pete Spalitto (DDS ’00) says his daughter Olivia (20) is studying abroad in Denmark and his daughter Anna (17) is a senior at St. Joseph Academy. His son Henry (15) is a sophomore at De Smet Jesuit High School.
Sarina Harman Tinnel (DDS ’05) is in the midst of a new office build.
Stuart Z. Samples (DDS ’05) is living in Carrollton, Missouri, with his wife Suzanne and son Zachary. He owns practices in Carrollton, Chillicothe, Brookfield and Hamilton, Missouri. He says his most exciting news is that his daughter Emily is in the early reserved admittance Class of 2029.
Classes of the 2010s
Craig Atchison (DDS ’10) lives in Bluffton, South Carolina, with his wife, Ashley, and kids, Kinley and Kellen. He completed the endodontics graduate program at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2018.
Corinne A. Bates (DDS ’10) was inducted as a fellow in the International College of Dentists in September 2024.
Christopher Hawkins (DDS ’10) has three amazing children – Kate (13), Ben (11) and Jude (9). He is a private practice owner and lieutenant colonel in the Missouri Army National Guard. He’s also a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry. He says he’s loving life!
Eric Stull (DDS ’10) has two daughters with his wife, Jane – Andie (7) and Emery (3). He co-owns Valley Dental in Onalaska, Wisconsin, a multi-doctor and multi-specialty clinic. Stull’s clinic time focuses on IV sedation, advanced restorative and surgery cases.
Leighton Werth (DDS ’15) just added twins to his family.