Page 6 - Lighthouse of Hope Magazine

HISTORY MAKERS

THE
They overcame challenges and adversity, contributed on the

field and in the classroom and helped promote social

what we were actually doing. It was a time

They change during the turbulent 1970s. ”We did not un-
overcame derstand the historical significance and impact of
of change..”
challenges and ad-
versity, contributed on the field
and in the classroom and helped promote
social change during the turbulent 1970s. We did not
understand the historical significance and impact of what Marvin C. Wells, first African Marvin C. Wells, first African American to
graduate from UF college of dentistry
we were actually doing. It was a very chaotic time, the
When hundreds of black University of Florida graduates gathered
country was going through a bad period, a renaissance,
American to graduate from UF
during the weekend of October 12 to honor pioneers whose
Trailblazers Marvin Wells, a Raines
talents helped lead the state’s flagship school to begin admitting

High graduate , became the first
it was changing.
African-American to graduate from
more black students, they didn’t just see examples of success.
celled by refusing to be discouraged by those who insisted they
Dr. Wells opened his oral and maxillo-
“I think because of what we did, the way we Florida’s dental school in 1977. They also saw examples of survival, examples of blacks who ex-
facial surgery practice in Jacksonville,
wear labels of inferiority.
Florida, in 1980. He now maintains
carried ourselves, the way we were able to
offices in Jacksonville and St. Augus-
They saw trailblazers like Dr. Marvin Wells who continues to serve
overcome adversity, I think that was a tem-
tine, enabling him to provide service
as a role model and example for other men and women yet to
to patients from divergent areas of
plate and we set the bar for everybody and
Florida’s First Coast, North Florida and
follow in their footsteps.
others who came after us.”
A life Dedication and Service
others
Dr. Wells has served as an assistant South Georgia. Paving the way for
professor in the University of Florida’s Dr. Marvin Wells is a Jacksonville
College of Dentistry, Department of native, having received his under-
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He has graduate degree from Jacksonville
also lectured extensively throughout University. He received his Doctor of
Florida and nationally on various sub- Dental Medicine degree from the Uni-
jects relating to his specialty, including versity of Florida College of Dentistry.
reconstructive and orthognathic His residency in oral and maxillofacial
surgery, dental implants, arthroscopic surgery was completed at the Down-
and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) state Medical School / Kings County
surgery, facial trauma, and surgery for Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York.
the removal of impacted teeth.
From some standpoints, Wells fit
Trailblazers honored by the mold of a disadvantaged youth,
standing-room-only crowds having grown up in a family of nine
at City Hall children whose father made a modest
living as a mechanic and electrician
Mayor Alvin Brown honored Wells and whose mother was a domestic
and seven other people Thursday worker until their retirement. But
night for paving a path for others to as a hard-working student with a
follow as a standing-room-only crowd strong competitive spirit, he prepared
packed City Council Chambers. himself well for professional school -
graduating with honors from Jackson-
ville University where he also became
student body president, and currently
a board member.

When hundreds of black University of Florida graduates gathered here this
6 LOH Magazine / February 2016
past weekend to honor pioneers whose talents helped lead the state’s flag-
ship school to begin admitting more black students, they didn’t just