"If you recognize what the Wilk antitrust lawsuit and what the Chiropractic Centennial Celebration did for chiropractic, you should be present at this event to recognize this individual," explained Dr. Scott Harris, host of the event being held in Davenport on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005.
"Dr. Holmberg is truly someone the whole profession should recognize and thank," added Don Petersen, publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic. "I saw firsthand what Dr. Holmberg did to hold the chiropractic centennial together, to bring parties representative of the whole profession together, and to ensure that it was not just a Palmer celebration. The whole profession should be there to thank this man."
Dr. Holmberg is also being recognized for his work as the national chairman for the Wilk antitrust fundraising committee, starting in 1978. "I witnessed firsthand what Bill did in terms of raising money for the Wilk antitrust lawsuit," commented Dr. Michael Pedigo, one of the five chiropractors who initiated the original lawsuit, and the only man in our profession who has served as president of both the International Chiropractors Association and the American Chiropractic Association. "It is estimated that [Dr. Holmberg] raised millions of dollars almost singlehandedly at a most crucial time for our profession. Every chiropractor who understands the meaning of giving without asking for a thing in return should be at this event."
Dr. Holmberg is an Alabama native who graduated from Palmer in 1955 and practiced in Rock Island, Iowa, for 40 years. He served on the Board of Trustees of Palmer College of Chiropractic for a short time in 1983, before being named vice president of alumni and development at his alma mater, where he worked from 1983-1998. He stayed at Palmer as an assistant to the president until earlier this year.
Dr. Holmberg was also instrumental in the success of the Chiropractic Centennial celebrations, held in 1995. He originated a committee in the late 1980s to celebrate the centennial, originally planned to be a Palmer celebration. Under Dr. Holmberg's leadership, the celebration was expanded to include the whole profession. He was named president of the centennial foundation in 1990 and guided the massive effort to its successful completion.
"I don't know that anybody else in the profession could have assembled all of the colleges, associations, vendors, and philosophies - bring them together with a common purpose - and pull off what he did," noted Don Petersen.
Dr. Holmberg is also recognized as the individual most responsible for developing the Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association into one of the leading alumni organizations in the country, with officers and associations in all 50 states and numerous countries. His approach of "friendraising" brought not only hundreds of thousands of dollars, but also thousands of Palmer alumni into closer involvement with the Fountainhead of chiropractic.
For more information on the roast/reunion for Dr. William F. Holmberg, contact Dr. Frank Bemis at (618) 463-1600 or
.
Dynamic Chiropractic editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email
.