History of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Texas A&M

Founding as State Dental College

The year is 1905 and annual tuition at the State Dental College, held on the second and third floors of a grocery store on the site of what is now the Adolphus Hotel, is $175. Area boarding houses offered room and board for $25 a month and weather reports say “cyclones, sunstrokes and blizzards are unknown.” It goes without saying that things have dramatically changed in the last 120 years, to be sure.

The Inception of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Dallas

In 1918, Dr. Athol L. Frew Sr. joined what became the Baylor College of Dentistry (BCD) as a professor of oral surgery, later serving as Dean of the College from 1923 to 1928, and was the first dentist in Dallas to limit his practice to oral surgery.  Dr. Frederick Hinds, Dean of the College from 1928 to 1943, fathered Dr. Edward Hinds who, in 1949 established one of the first formal oral surgery training programs in the state of Texas. That same year, in 1949, under Dean George L. Powers, the College saw its first enrollment in advanced studies in oral surgery and, just one short year later, the new clinical building was opened at 800 Hall Street. Through decades of dedication from Deans across all dental specialties, Baylor College of Dentistry became part of Texas A&M University in 1996 under Dean Dominick Depaola.

Pioneering the Field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1926, nationally recognized Dr. Phillip Earle Williams was a pioneer in the field of oral surgery and one of the foremost sought after Doctors of Dental Surgery in the region. Dr. Williams began teaching part-time at the College as an oral surgery faculty member and served as Chief of Oral Surgery at Parkland Memorial Hospital from 1947 to 1957. Our department owes great credit to Dr. Williams and continues, to this day, to look upon his distinguished career and contributions to oral surgery with great pride.

Among his many professional accomplishments, Dr. Williams served as the president of the Dallas County Dental Society and the Texas Dental Association, vice president of the American Dental Association, president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2 terms), and president of the American College of Dentists. He was awarded the Texas Dental Association’s dentist of the year award in 1974 and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Baylor College of Dentistry the following year, and, in 1986 was inducted into its Hall of Fame.

Founded by his son, 1986 Baylor College of Dentistry graduate and former part-time faculty, Dr. Craig Williams, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry is proud to hold the Earle Williams Lectureship which is used to support didactic training for pre-doctoral students and oral and maxillofacial surgery residents.

Contributions to the Earle Williams Lectureship can be made by contacting the department.

College of Dentistry Partners with the United States Military

Known to students as “Chief”, Dr. D. Lamar Byrd headed the department from 1965 to 1984 and, during that time, established a joint relationship with the United States Military which continues today – each year, the OMS Residency Program Matches with one active military candidate who, after four years, is eligible to the Board of American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The Texas A&M College of Dentistry Oral Surgery Residency is one of only two programs in the state that offers both a 6- and 4-year program and the only program in Texas whose 4-year program is reserved for the United States Military.

Dr. Wolford Joins the College of Dentistry

Legendary oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Larry Wolford, joined Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor College of Dentistry in 1983 before opening his private practice in the Sammons Tower of the hospital in 1987 where you can still find him today. Such is his international renown to the specialty, current residents of our program are fortunate to gain hands-on training in TMJ surgery, orthognathic surgery, cleft lip/palate surgery, craniofacial surgery, and microneurosurgery from Dr. Wolford in their second to last year of training. Keeping with tradition, residents on Dr. Wolford’s service are expected to come to work in business professional attire, wear their white coats, and present themselves with esteem, professionalism, pride in their field.

Triplett Begins Medical School Collaboration

In 1991, Dr. R. Gilbert Triplett was appointed chairman of our department after a distinguished career as a United States Navy oral surgeon. Over the next decade, Dr. Triplett developed a residency program that is now considered to be one of the premier in the country and has been equally recognized, internationally.

In 1997 Dr. Triplett established the 6-year, dual degree (DDS/DMD, MD) oral and maxillofacial surgery training program with the cooperation of the Texas Tech Medical School in Lubbock, Texas. During its 28-year partnership, the program has produced over 50 dually degreed oral and maxillofacial surgeons, culminating in the graduation of its final class from Texas Tech Medical School in 2026 after having registered its inaugural class with the Texas A&M University School of Medicine in 2025. It is because of Dr. Triplett’s dedication, teaching, mentorship, and friendship that, in 2021, then Dean of the College, Dr. Lawrence E. Wolinsky, established the Dr. R. Gilbert Triplett Endowed Chair in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and, as we look to the legacy of this endowment, we continue our steadfast dedication to generating financial pledges in support of the Chairpersons who will lead our Team for many years to come.  

Contributions to the Dr. R. Gilbert Triplett Endowment can be made by contacting the department.