© 2006 - The Charles H. Tweed International Foundation

Herb receiving trophy as The WesternJunior Amateur Champion in 1954.If each of these participants returned to his/her respective countryand practiced, even in part, the Tweed-Merrifield Principles according toHerb’s teaching, with a conservative 2000 patients during their careers (acareer being approximately 30 years, with a patient load of 300 patients peryear amounting to 9000 patients in total), Herb would directly influence inthe neighborhood of 8,000,000 patients. I am convinced that his influence isof that magnitude … no doubt in my mind.That figure does not include the students he has taught on a routinebasis in three universities: St. Louis University, six years, Baylor University,ten years and Oklahoma University, 18 years.Nor does it include the universities where he has been a visitinglecturer, such as Iowa, Michigan, Southern California, UMKC, Case WesternReserve, New York, Tennessee, NOVA, Toronto, and Harvard.It does not include the lectures presented in a dozen countries, whichinclude Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, Italy,France and Brazil, and in at least 25 states in the United States.It does not include the extra courses given in Tucson; it does notinclude the 100 plus lectures that he has given to associations other than TheTweed Course, and it does not include his publications in the literature andhis chapter in the Graber text book. Herb Klontz teaches by example; he doesnot tell students what to do, he shows them. He is constantly in the trenches, in his office, treating patients exactly ashe teaches in Tucson. I cannot remember calling Herb on the telephone in his office when he was not present.There is no question, Herb Klontz has directly influenced a staggering number of colleagues, students andpatients and has served as a role model around the world. He represents the gold standard of precision orthodontics.But … he is more than that.I am particularly aware of Herb’s personal qualities for I have seen him in action … behind the scenes. There isnot a more unselfish, giving and thoughtful person in our specialty. For several years he took the time to travel fromOklahoma City to Toronto to share his special talents with 10 – 12 graduate orthodonticstudents for remuneration that was barely more than his expenses. Howmany teachers of his caliber and reputation would be as considerate, as generousand as caring as that … for the benefit of such a few?Herb with his son Kelly and Arnold Palmer.Herb in 1962 upongraduating as an orthodontistfrom Washington University,St. Louis.7