Born in rural Alabama in 1934 during the middle of the Great Depression, he was raised in a life of relative privilege as the son of the local dentist. Although he was the youngest of 4 children and the second son, he was named after his father, and to avoid confusion, the family decided to call him “Bubba.” Now, Bubba is not a name typically associated with academic excellence, but Bubba was a bright young boy. He graduated high school at 16 and college at 18. He followed in his father’s footsteps and graduated from Emory University College of Dentistry in 1957, before the widespread acceptance of the high-speed handpiece.
Bubba signed up for the US Public Health Service (USPHS) to support his young family during dental school. He agreed to enlist as an officer after graduation in exchange for tuition assistance and a stipend. Bubba was not a suitable...
