Dr. Galen Price, the fourth president of Palmer College of Chiropractic, died on Monday, Jan. 17, 2000, in Lakeland, Fla. He was the first president of the college who was not a member of the Palmer family, succeeding to the presidency in 1978 upon the death of Dr. David Palmer.
"Galen Price changed the world by planting ideas in generation after generation of chiropractic students," observed Palmer President Guy Riekeman. "He taught my father; he taught me; he taught the profession. He was kind and gentle, witty and caring; strong in principle; a colleague, a mentor, a friend. The world and our profession have lost an irreplaceable gem. Today we will mourn, tomorrow we will celebrate, but for all time let's not forget the gift he gave: the gift that was his life. "
Born on March 25, 1912, Galen Price was a native of Larned, Kansas. He attended Clark University in Massachusetts and graduated from Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1936. He was a veteran of World War II. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the South Pacific from 1941 to 1944.
At Palmer, Dr. Price was the dean of faculty, chairman of the department of chiropractic sciences, and dean of philosophy. He was named chairman of the administrative executive committee in 1976 and administrator of the college in 1977. Although contemplating retirement, he agreed to serve as president until the board of trustees could conduct a thorough search for the next president. He served until Dr. Jerome McAndrews was appointed in 1979.
His many honors included an honorary Doctor of Chiropractic Humanities from Palmer (1968); a Fellow in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic (1990); ICA "Chiropractor of the Year" (1977); and the ICA's "Herbert Ross Reaver Award for Lifetime Service" in 1999. The Palmer Student Council named Dr. Price "Mr. Philosophy of Chiropractic" in 1973.
Dr. Price is survived by his wife, Dr. Lorene Price, sons Galen Jr., David, Charles and George, and daughters Patricia and Mary Lorene.
Visitation took place in Davenport on Friday, Jan. 21, with the funeral mass conducted on Saturday at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Davenport.
Editor's note: Thanks to Lori Leipold of Palmer College for providing the information in this tribute to Dr. Price.
