50 years in the making
Texas A&M School of Dentistry hosted the class of 1973 for their 50th reunion Oct. 18.
The alumni toured the campus and were treated to a luncheon on the sixth floor of the Administration and Education Building. They also reminisced about their days as students at the school, then known as Baylor College of Dentistry.
“I sat next to Amp Miller [director of Comprehensive Dentistry], and we became lifelong friends,” said Dr. Michael McWatters. “After I practiced many years in Austin, he invited me to teach at the dental school here, and I taught here from 2001 to 2020. The highlight of my dental career was teaching here, and that was all because of the man I sat by for four years.”
Dr. Mark Yarbrough, another alum, added that he couldn’t have asked for a better experience at the school. It set him up well for his career, he said, and he enjoyed his time as a student.
“A million good memories,” he said. “Hard work, good friends, wound up in a great profession, no regrets.”
The alumni also heard from Dean Lily T. García. García, a 1984 alumna, talked about changes at the school through the years. She highlighted future renovations, past name changes and strengthening ties to the Texas A&M University system. While things do change, she said, a lot is staying the same.
“[The Aggie Core Values] are the basics of what we do in dentistry,” she said. “It’s about respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. That reflects everything you do in your practices, in your lives, in your churches and your communities. That’s easy to adopt.”
