After 54 Years, Lewiston Dentist Gets His UI Degree
Monday, May 9 2005
May 9, 2005 MOSCOW William Chetwood will walk across the stage at the University of Idaho College of Science commencement May 14 to officially receive the degree he earned in 1951. "It will be a mark of pride for me,” said the 75-year-old retired Lewiston dentist. Chetwood attended UI from 1948 to 1951 as a pre-dental student. After his third year, he was accepted at the University of Oregon dental school in Portland. At the time, pre-dental and pre-medical students often left UI after three years, but they could apply for and receive their UI degree after completing their professional schooling. Chetwood forgot to apply for his degree. He went off to practice dentistry and served in the Navy for two years. He settled in Lewiston in 1957, opened an office and worked until his retirement in 1989. “I wrote to the university three times over the years to ask about getting my diploma, but never got a reply” said Chetwood. “I was fishing with my grandson and talking about it and he said I should give it one more try. He told me, ‘Practice what you preach, and get what you’re entitled to.’” So Chetwood wrote again, and this time it worked. Cheryl Tribble in the College of Science office passed Chetwood’s letter on the Associate Dean Joe Cloud. “Dr. Chetwood met all the requirements for a UI degree. It’s been a long time since we had a pre-dental degree program, but we’re very happy to honor our history and recognize Dr. Chetwood with a bachelor of science degree in pre-dentistry.” “I have a soft spot in my heart for the University of Idaho,” said Chetwood.“ He plans on putting his diploma in a frame and will be proud to be a bona fide alumnus. “The University of Idaho always has been my alma mater,” he said. is sharing the commencement limelight with other family members. One of his daughters and two grandchildren will graduate from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston and another granddaughter is graduating from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. CONTACT: Dr. William Chetwood, (208) 743-8230, wechetwood@cableone.net; Joe Cloud, associate dean of the College of Science, (208) 885-0293, jcloud@uidaho.edu; or Jeff Olson, University Communications, (208) 885-8934, jolson@uidaho.edu -30- jo5/9/05 COS
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