Reid, Paul C. 1924-2017 Dr. Paul Carey Reid, 92, Columbia, MO passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, MO, Memorial Mass and internment will be in St. Louis at a later date. Dr. Paul Carey Reid was a man of contrasts. Seemingly shy, and always in the possession of action-directing lists, his mischievous sense of humor would poke through and disarm everyone nearby. A superb outdoor athlete, his professional life followed the path of indoor pursuits from private practice dentistry to statewide administration. Although a lover of planning on the surface, he was not averse to facing a challenge. White-coated during the week, he was quite the fashionisto at home sporting wildly-colored pants and an endless parade of hats. Born and raised in Louisville Kentucky, it was in Missouri that he found his vocation and his love. It was at St. Louis University that he lettered in three varsity sports but it was his dancing as well as his dashing good looks that captured the heart of his lifelong love, Kathie. Together for over seventy years, he was a devoted family man raising six children: Carey (Diane Wald), Julie Galosy, Steve (Donna), Suzi Ferrin (Mike), Dan (Marti) and Amy Potts (Shaun). Predictability was not to be, and in the middle of his successful private dental practice in St. Louis he purposely veered off that path returning to graduate school to pursue a Master's in Public Health at Loma Linda University in California. As a new graduate he spearheaded the regional medical planning of Riverside County even representing the health interests of the Native American reservations of that area. Government changes in medical planning and a new opportunity presented him with another challenge which he readily accepted: Director of Dental Health for the Island of Guam. In Guam he headed a dynamic program which partnered Filipina women dentists acting as chair-side assistants to the American-licensed supervising dentists. With this unique configuration the program easily accommodated the burgeoning population of under eighteen-year-olds who received free dental care on the island. Returning to the US mainland, he pursued his interests in public health with his position as Director of Dental Health for the State of Missouri. He was elected to national office as the President of the State and Territorial Dental Directors' Association (ASTDD), 1984-1985. Besides his three varsity letters he received many awards in his life both professional and personal. These included ASTDD's Outstanding Achievement Award and Missouri Dental Association Distinguished Service Award. On the personal side he claimed Columbia-wide renown for the magnificent tomatoes he produced each year and was the winner of the imaginary Landscape Designer of the Cul-de-Sac award from the Melody Lane neighbors. His most coveted award, induction into the Hole in One club was, as he said Golf's Most Prestigious Amateur Award.

Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Apr. 2, 2017.