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A2 FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | May 2018 Remembering Dr. R. Chester Redhead ByEDr.EDavidEL .EHfexter,EEditfrEInEChiefE Dr. R. Chester Redhead peacefully passed away this past December. He was an ener- getic, omnipresent and charismatic young man. Graduating from Howard University Dental School in 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving more than two years. He then served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Chester always was enthusiastic about dentistry. But one must be reminded of the social barriers and deeply ingrained dis- crimination encompassing the era of his career. Overcoming the obstacles, Chester joined and participated in the ADA. He was a prominent, active member of the First District Dental Society and the local East- ern Dental Society. He quickly moved up leadership ladders, ultimately becoming an officer and eventually president of the First District Dental Society, the largest lo- cal dental society in the country. Chester kept taking dental education courses to ensure his patients in his pri- vate practice, on 135th Street in Harlem, AD received the finest and most up-to- date care. Imagine my surprise while I was presenting a continuing educa- tion course on periodontal surgery and implants, that when I looked out at the participants, there taking notes and listening was Chester — what a feeling. Many social changes in dentistry were initially brought about for black dentists in New York’s dental societies by Dr. Warren Walters and his father. It was slow but they opened the door, and Chester furthered such efforts. Today, many of the results of that dif- ficult, early work are taken for granted. Chester was jovial and charming, with quick humor — and he was a great dresser. He did far more than put in his time. In ad- dition to running his dental practice and serving in dental society leadership roles, he was a husband and father of three young men. Everyone who has been involved in dental society business and politics knows the staggering impact on personal life and professional practice. Yet while serving as president of the First District, he accepted From left, in 2014, Gladys Redhead, Dr. David L. Hoexter, June Hoexter and Dr. Chester Redhead celebrate the Redheads’ 61st wedding anniversary in the Hamptons at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor, N.Y. Photo/Provided by Dr. David L. Hoexter being a chairman and participant of the Greater New York Dental Meeting. He served in these demanding roles simulta- neously for more than four years. This was followed by serving as a governor on the New York State Board of Governors. In all his professional roles, this social leader and joke teller was breaking down barriers to bring about changes that many take for granted today. During that strug- gle, Chester’s closest friends became even closer. Rep. Charles Rangel, New York’s longest-serving congressional representa- tive, spoke at his board of governors induc- tion. Keeping in style that evening, Ches- ter drove Rangel home in his Rolls Royce. Another close friend was New York power broker Basel Patterson, known as one of the state’s most influential politicians. Patter- son was a close influence and friend who broke bread with us often. Patterson’s son, David, became New York’s first black lieu- tenant governor and, later, the state’s first black governor. David Dinkins, New York City’s first black mayor, was another close friend who spoke at the funeral service. When I was president of the New York County Dental Society, I needed a speaker for a children’s oral-health gathering. Without hesitation, Chester had phoned then Mayor Dinkins who smilingly came to the Empire State Building and greeted and spoke with all of the kids — as requested by his friend. Chester’s greatest achievement was mar- rying the beautiful Gladys. As I noted at the funeral service, the New York Times wedding announcement — accompanied by a beautiful photo of Gladys — said, “Dr. Scott’s daughter, Gladys, marries New York dentist.” Sixty-two years and three grown children later, marrying Gladys remained Chester’s greatest achievement. He annually helped others earn fellow- ships, and he understood the importance of the traditions and ceremony marking the achievement. Yet when I presented him with his fellowship in the Interna- tional Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics, for which honorees are supplied cap and gowns for the ceremony, Chester had to be different. He wore his cap from Howard University. He was that loyal. Dr. Redhead lived in times that were socially changing, and his tireless work breaking down barriers benefitted many who followed. But I never saw him as a black dentist, I saw him only as my friend. DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · US Edition PUBLISHER & CHAIRMAN Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Eric Seid e.seid@dental-tribune.com GROUP EDITOR Kristine Colker g.colger@dental-tribune.com EDITOR IN CHIEF DENTAL TRIBUNE Dr. David L. Hoexter feedbacg@dental-tribune.com MANAGING EDITOR U.S. AND CANADA EDITIONS Robert Selleck r.sellecg@dental-tribune.com MANAGING EDITOR Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com MANAGING EDITOR Sierra Rendon s.rendon@dental-tribune.com PRODUCT/ACCOUNT MANAGER Humberto Estrada h.estrada@dental-tribune.com PRODUCT/ACCOUNT MANAGER Maria Kaiser m.gaiser@dental-tribune.com PRODUCT/ACCOUNT MANAGER Jordan McCumbee j.mccumbee@dental-tribune.com CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER Leerol Colquhoun l.colquhoun@dental-tribune.com EDUCATION DIRECTOR Christiane Ferret c.ferret@dtstudyclub.com ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR Nirmala Singh n.singh@dental-tribune.com Tribune America LLC 116 West 23rd St., Ste. #500 New York, N.Y. 10011 (212) 244-7181 Published by Tribune America © 2018 Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. Dental Tribune strives to maintain the utmost accu- racy in its news and clinical reports. If you find a fac- tual error or content that requires clarification, please contact Managing Editor Robert Selleck at r.sellecg@ dental-tribune.com. Dental Tribune cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims or for typographical errors. The publisher also does not as- sume responsibility for product names or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Tribune America. EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. Joel Berg Dr. L. Stephen Buchanan Dr. Arnaldo Castellucci Dr. Gorden Christensen Dr. Rella Christensen Dr. William Dickerson Hugh Doherty Dr. James Doundoulakis Dr. David Garber Dr. Fay Goldstep Dr. Howard Glazer Dr. Harold Heymann Dr. Karl Leinfelder Dr. Roger Levin Dr. Carl E. Misch Dr. Dan Nathanson Dr. Chester Redhead Dr. Irwin Smigel Dr. Jon Suzuki Dr. Dennis Tartakow Dr. Dan Ward Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criti- cism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Dental Tribune? Let us know by sending an email to feedback@ dental-tribune.com. We look forward to hearing from you!