Home Address 150 Terrapin Close Killen, AL 35645	Email:  drjimryerson@gmail.com   www.dentistryoftheshoals.com www.facebook.com/DentistryoftheShoals www.twitter.com/DentistryShoals	Work Address 1013 East Avalon Ave. Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
	*Name when in the high school yearbook: Jim *I am now often called: Jim, Dr. R, Doc
Current Life Situation Full time dental practice…and I’m in my 43rd year and will continue for at least 50, health permitting. I love what I do, who I work with, and the community I serve. Also, I’m a weekend “Southern Gentleman/Farmer” out in the country. Family History First marriage: Three beautiful daughters, three sweet granddaughters, and one handsome grandson (first male in 60+ years in the extended Ryerson family…think he’s spoiled?). Second marriage: Twenty-two wonderful years and counting, with a wonderful wife and one more beautiful daughter, age 16. Current Hobbies and Interests Keeping on the cutting edge of dentistry. Bush hogging and chain sawing on the weekends. Still loving music. University of Alabama Crimson Tide Football. Roll Tide!! Claims to Fame My name, along with twenty others, is on a Bronze Plaque at the entrance to my dental school. My degree of “Redneck” bestowed upon me by my wife’s Uncle Sonny the day I reached into my bibbed overalls and pulled out my knife, the key to my 4WD truck, and the key to my four-wheeler. Now, that was right near impossible for an educated Yankee to receive. U.S. Army Commendation metal from Kaiserslautern, Germany, 1975 U.S. Army Commendation metal from Ft. McClellan, Anniston, AL in 1977. (Very few have been awarded to dental officers over the years.) Education 1967 graduate of the University of Alabama, B.S. in Chemistry. 1971 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, DMD degree. U.S. Army Dental Corps. 1971-1977. Private Practice From 1977 to present...and counting. Very busy bread and butter practice with a strong high-end component. Have mentored nine associates over the years, with as many as four at one time. The driving force/philosophy is one of being preventively oriented, health centered, and relationship based. It’s a throwback on the Dr. Marcus Welby, MD approach to health care, and it works great in the 21st century. It amazes me why dentists would behave differently, but they do. I’ve even lectured at my dental school and local dental societies about this approach, and the vast majority just don’t get it. On a note about East Lansing High School…   The learning environment and education that I received at ELHS was largely responsible for my success in life. The faculty, and the challenges they put us through, were instrumental to doing the right thing and forming good habits. The gene pool of the students was unreal. I doubt my classmates in dental school were any “smarter” than my classmates in high school…and our dental school tested first in the nation in 1971. Our dental school came in first in the nation more than Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s teams did…more like Coach Nick Saban’s. (3 out of the last 4 national championships!!... Roll Tide!) I was a B, C, D student in East Lansing and straight A student at Tuscaloosa High School my senior year; and I’ve always known the ELHS was the basis for my continued academic achievement. If you didn’t leave before your senior year you might not have appreciated how super our school/faculty really was.   It seems that all of our teachers had PhD’s, and all of our classmates at least started college. Could this really be true?!   The absolute best class I had in all my years of education preparing me for life, both as a person and a continuous student, was Mrs. Ross’ 11th grade English class. The way I remember, it was not in the school curriculum, but in her class you were required to read sixteen novels off of her approved reading list. It was tough, TOUGH reading …and it was life changing for me.   It was a treasure being a part of such a great high school experience, and an honor to be included in this 50th reunion. In case you have a hard time remembering me, I was the clarinet player in the band, and the smallest boy in our class. The only thing I did well in high school was excel in the band. It started with Gerald Barttett and evolved to solo chair clarinet in The University of Alabama Million Dollar Band, also played in the Dixieland band on the side, with a short GIG on Bourbon Street. I achieved my early identity through music.   Well, I’m all grown up now and anticipating re-acquainting myself with my classmates. Thank you for the opportunity.