Smiles we remember: Dr. Tommy W. Gage
It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Tommy W. Gage, who died May 23, 2025.
Dr. Gage began his distinguished career at the dental school in 1969 as associate professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology. He later served as vice chair and professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology and held a clinical faculty appointment in the college’s Stomatology Center. He retired in 2000 as professor emeritus. Following his initial retirement, Dr. Gage returned to serve as director of curriculum, retiring a second time in 2002 after 33 years of dedicated service.
In 1999, Dr. Gage was inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame. At the time, former Dean Dr. James S. Cole said, “These inductees to the Hall of Fame are truly deserving of this prestigious honor. The college has benefited greatly from their dedication and involvement.”
Dr. Gage was named the Dallas County Dental Society’s Dentist of the Year in 2000. A fellow of both the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, he was a respected speaker, contributor and author, and co-authored Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference. He was an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the Dallas County Dental Society, Texas Dental Association and American Dental Association.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Dr. Gage served in both active and reserve roles and was honorably discharged in 1969 at the rank of major.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1957, before completing his doctor of dental surgery degree at what was then Baylor College of Dentistry in 1961. In 1969, Dr. Gage received a doctorate in physiology from Baylor University.
Colleagues at the dental school shared memories of Dr. Gage.
“When I first arrived at the college in 2006, Dr. Tommy Gage was one of my teaching mentors,” said Dr. Jayne S. Reuben, instructional associate professor in biomedical sciences. “As a pharmacist and dentist with a Ph.D., he was an extraordinary resource for the history of pharmacology. His extensive knowledge and vast clinical experience helped me integrate the basic sciences with clinical practice. An engaging raconteur and masterful teacher, Dr. Gage trained the students at Baylor College of Dentistry to be thoughtful and responsible prescribers. I cannot quantify how valuable his insight was to me as a brand-new faculty member.
“Dr. Tommy Gage was more than a colleague — he was a guiding light in our field. His wisdom, generosity and unwavering commitment to excellence left an indelible mark. A giant in the field of pharmacology education has fallen, leaving a void that will be difficult to fill.”
Dr. John Wright, Regents Professor in diagnostic sciences, shared: “When I moved to Rockwall, Tommy and I started carpooling to work and we continued for over 20 years. With his dental degree and Ph.D. in pharmacology, he was uniquely positioned to make pharmacology for dental and graduate students clinically relevant. His dental drug reference was used by clinicians all over the country, and I think his last edition was the sixth. He was inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame because of his lifetime contribution to the mission of the college and its students. He was a gifted man, equally dedicated to family, his religion and dental education.”
A public visitation will be held Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Reflections Chapel at Rest Haven Funeral Home, 2500 State Highway 66 East, Rockwall, Texas. A funeral service in honor of Dr. Gage will follow at 2 p.m., also at Reflections Chapel.
On behalf of Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Gage family.