All dinner meetings at the Washington Community Center. Meet and Great 5:30 pm, Dinner6:00 pm $14 per person
Dr. Richard G Whitehead was born and raised in St. George, Utah, and was a graduate of Dixie High School, Dixie College and Brigham Young University. In 1970, he graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska and then completed an oral surgery internship at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He then returned to St. George where he practiced dentistry and oral surgery for 26 years. Dr. Whitehead, a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology, was one of the pioneers in the field of dental implants and transplants in Southwestern Utah and is credited to have placed some of the first dental implants in the state. In 2001, the Utah Dental Association presented him with their Distinguished Service Award.
He has been active in community affairs in St. George serving on the City Council, as president of the Rotary Club and as a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce recognized him as Man of the Year. He was a founding member of the board of directors of Strata Corporation and the Heritage Arts Foundation (Tuacahn) and a member of Zions Bank Southern Utah Region Advisory Board. A strong believer in education, Dr. Whitehead is an emeritus member of the Creighton University School of Dentistry Advisory Board. He is past president of the Dixie College Foundation, the Alumni Association, co-founder and member of the Dixie College National Advisory Council and former member of the Dixie College Board of Trustees. In 1971, he became actively involved in raising funds for Dixie College. Until 1988, he volunteered his time and then was hired on a part time basis to chair the Dixie College Capital Campaign.
In 1993, he became a full time employee of Dixie College still practicing dentistry one day a week. In 1997, he left dentistry to devote his total attention to Dixie College where he served as the executive director of institutional advancement. During his tenure at Dixie, he headed efforts that raised in excess of $30 million. On May 5, 2000, at Dixie College’s commencement exercises the Utah State Board of Regents awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. He, his wife Launa and their six children are all graduates of Dixie State College. Richard currently serves as interim president at Southern Virginia University.