The Michigan Dental Association, founded in 1856, is the oldest professional association in Michigan and the oldest dental association in continuous existence in the United States. The MDA has benefitted from strong leaders and visionaries who have guided the association through the years. Below is a comprehensive list of those MDA former presidents.
1850s
1856-57 Dr. C. F. Knowlton, Detroit
1857-59 Dr. Joseph Mansfield, Niles
1859-60 Dr. C. B. Porter, Ann Arbor
1860s
1860-61 Dr. C. S. Chittenden, Hamilton, Ontario
1861-62 Dr. William Cahoon, Detroit
1862-63 Dr. J. A. Robinson, Jackson
1863-64 Dr. H. Benedict, Detroit
1864-65 Dr. G. W. Stone, Albion
1865-66 Dr. J. A. Watling, Ypsilanti
1866-67 Dr. G. L. Field, Detroit
1867-68 Dr. J. A. Harris, Pontiac
1867-68 Dr. Isaac Douglass, Romeo
1868-69 Dr. George Leary, Adrian
1869-71 Dr. E. S. Holmes, Grand Rapids
1870s
1871-72 Dr. G. W. Stone, Albion
1872-73 Dr. G. R. Thomas, Detroit
1873-74 Dr. D. C. Hawxhurst, Battle Creek
1874-75 Dr. T. R. Perry, Grand Rapids
1875-76 Dr. J. W. Finch, Adrian
1876-78 Dr. G. R. Thomas, Detroit
1878-80 Dr. G. L. Field, Detroit
1880s
1880-81 Dr. J. C. Parker, Grand Rapids
1881-83 Dr. A. T. Metcalf, Kalamazoo
1883-84 Dr. W. H. Dorrence, Ann Arbor
1884-85 Dr. J. Lathrop, Detroit
1885-86 Dr. F. W. Clawson, Detroit
1886-87 Dr. L. L. David, Detroit
1887-88 Dr. J. A. Robinson, Jackson
1888-90 Dr. C. S. Case, Jackson
1890s
1890-91 Dr. H. K. Lathrop, Detroit
1891-92 Dr. H. C. Corns, Detroit
1892-94 Dr. N. S. Hoff, Ann Arbor
1894-95 Dr. W. P. Morgan, Saginaw
1895-96 Dr. J. Ward House, Grand Rapids
1896-97 Dr. A. W. Diack, Ann Arbor
1897-98 Dr. E. T. Loeffler, Ann Arbor
1898-99 Dr. C. N. Blackmarr, Jackson
1899-1900 Dr. H. C. Raymond, Detroit
1900s
1900-01 Dr. S. M. Fowler, Battle Creek
1901-02 Dr. C. H. Oakman, Detroit
1902-03 Dr. E. A. Honey, Kalamazoo
1903-04 Dr. C. C. Noble, Detroit
1904-05 Dr. F. H. Essig, Dowagiac
1905-06 Dr. J. J. Green, Ionia
1906-07 Dr. A. L. LeGro, Detroit
1907-08 Dr. E. B. Spaulding, Birmingham
1908-09 Dr. J. W. Lyons, Jackson
1909-10 Dr. G. H. Copp, Plainwell
1910s
1910-11 Dr. D. M. Graham, Detroit
1911-12 Dr. J. H. Armstrong, Belding
1912-13 Dr. M. L. Ward, Ann Arbor
1913-14 Dr. W. A. Griffen, Detroit
1914-15 Dr. C. A. Burbidge, Grand Rapids
1915-16 Dr. F. W. Howlet, Jackson
1916-17 Dr. G. C. Bowles, Detroit
1917-18 Dr. O. W. White, Detroit
1918-19 Dr. C. J. Lyons, Ann Arbor
1919-20 Dr. C. F. Burke, Detroit
1920s
1920-21 Dr. C. G. Bates, Durand
1921-22 Dr. R. W. Bunting, Ann Arbor
1922-23 Dr. W. H. Elliott, Detroit
1923-24 Dr. James H. Taylor, Flint
1924-25 Dr. W. W. Gibson, Grand Rapids
1925-26 Dr. W. A. Cook, Midland
1926-27 Dr. J. D. Locke, Grand Rapids
1927-28 Dr. W. E. Brown, Benton Harbor
1928-29 Dr. P. C. Lowery, Detroit
1929-30 Dr. P. J. O’Reilly, Detroit
1930s
1930-31 Dr. E. G. Robbins, Ishpeming
1931-32 Dr. R. E. Patterson, Tecumseh, Ontario
1932-34 Dr. Ward Moore, Grand Rapids
1934-35 Dr. M. Webster Prince, Redlands, Calif.
1935-36 Dr. Harry F. Parks, Jackson
1936-37 Dr. William F. Northrup, Detroit
1937-38 Dr. U. Garfield Richert, Ann Arbor
1938-39 Dr. J. Orton Goodsell, Saginaw
1939-40 Dr. P. H. Jeserich, Watervliet
1940s
1940-41 Dr. F. J. Henry, Grand Rapids
1941-42 Dr. C. J. Wright, Lansing
1942-43 Dr. L. E. Hooper, Grosse lle
1943-44 Dr. O. C. Applegate, Ann Arbor
1944-45 Dr. E. J. Chamberlain, Grand Rapids (Honorary President)
1944-46 Dr. William R. Davis, Flint
1946-47 Dr. Charles H. Matson, Venice, Fla.
1947-48 Dr. Charles H. Jamieson, Laguna Hills, Calif.
1947-48 Dr. J. F. Spencer, Grand Rapids (Honorary President)
1948-49 Dr. Laverne H. Andrews, St. Joseph
1949-50 Dr. G. W. Christiansen, Grosse Pointe Farms
1950s
1950-51 Dr. David Seligson, Detroit
1951-52 Dr. H. L. Shehan, Jackson
1952-53 Dr. Glen R. Brooks, Rochester
1953-54 Dr. A. V. Diedrich, Detroit
1954-55 Dr. D. M. Teal, Yale
1955-56 Dr. R. W. Walmoth, Auburn Hills
1956-57 Dr. Raymond A. Hart, Saginaw
1957-58 Dr. F. Daryl Ostrander, Ann Arbor
1957-58 Dr. Alfred H. Lowther, Detroit (Honorary)
1958-59 Dr. Jack P. Beukema, Grand Rapids
1959-60 Dr. Murray A. Leitch, Farmington Hills
1960s
1960-61 Dr. A. J. Donnelly, Muskegon
1961-62 Dr. Frederick A. Henny, Boynton Beach, FL
1961-62 Dr. Fred Wertheimer, Farmington (Honorary)
1962-63 Dr. J. Robert Short, Spring Hill Fla.
1963-64 Dr. Edward A. Cheney, East Lansing, MI
1964-65 Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, Flint
1965-66 Dr. Percy J. Ross, Southfield
1966-67 Dr. Vernon K. Johnson, Escanaba, MI
1967-68 Dr. O. Lee Ricker, Grand Rapids, MI
1968-69 Dr. William E. Brown, Ann Arbor, MI
1969-70 Mr. H. Leon Snow, Norman, Okla. (Honorary)
1969-70 Dr. H. J. Walkotten, Grand Rapids
1970s
1970-71 Dr. Paul S. Butcher, Detroit District
1971-72 Dr. Richard S. Youngs, Grand Blanc
1972-73 Dr. Harry J. Pearsall, Bay City
1973-74 Dr. Max S. Hart, Flint
1974-75 Dr. H. Ward Fountain, Sun City, AZ
1975-76 Dr. Joseph M. Cabot, Detroit District
1976-77 Dr. Richard A. Shick, Genesee District
1977-78 Dr. James R. Lyons, Dearborn, MI
1978-79 Dr. James V. Barone, Farmington Hills, MI
1979-80 Dr. William M. Travis, Dearborn
1980s
1980-81 Dr. William M. Creason, Grand Haven, MI
1981-82 Dr. Robert E. Doerr, Traverse City, MI
1982-83 Dr. Robert B. Cornwall, Farmington Hills
1983-84 Dr. Wilbert C. Fletke, Lansing, MI
1984-85 Dr. Donald E. Stroud, Clinton Township, MI
1985-86 Dr. Anthony E. Dietz, Oakland District
1986-87 Dr. George L. Bletsas, Detroit District
1987-88 Dr. John V. Hinterman, Genesee District
1988-89 Dr. David F. Cooley, Kalamazoo District
1989-90 Dr. Eugene L. Bonofiglo, West Michigan District
1990s
1990-91 Dr. John A. Breza, Macomb District
1990-91 Dr. John G. Nolen, East Lansing (honorary)
1991-92 Dr. Lawrence R. Marcotte, West Michigan District
1992-93 Dr. Ronald J. Paler, Detroit District
1993-94 Dr. Jay A. Werschky, Genesee District
1994-95 Dr. Richard V. Brodoski, Macomb District
1995-96 Dr. Arnold M. Baker, West Michigan District
1996-97 Dr. David P. Borlas, Macomb District
1997-98 Dr. Richard L. Jankowski, Central District
1998-99 Dr. Michael D. Jennings, Detroit District
1999-00 Dr. Gary L. Zoutendam, Southwestern District
2000s
2000-01 Dr. Gary Y. Asano, Superior District
2000-01 Dr. Robert D. Mitus, Jr., West Michigan District (honorary)
2001-02 Dr. William R. Chase, Jackson District
2002-03 Dr. John S. Buchheister, Macomb District
2003-04 Dr. Raymond F. Gist, Genesee District
2004-05 Dr. George T. Goodis, Detroit District
2005-06 Dr. Josef Kolling, Washtenaw District
2006-07 Dr. Edwin Secord, Detroit District
2007-08 Dr. Steven Dater, West Michigan District
2008-09 Dr. Joanne Dawley, Detroit District
2009-10 Dr. William Wright, Jackson District
2009-10 Mrs. Gerri Cherney, Laingsburg (Honorary)
1990s
1990-91 Dr. John A. Breza, Macomb District
1990-91 Dr. John G. Nolen, East Lansing (honorary)
1991-92 Dr. Lawrence R. Marcotte, West Michigan District
1992-93 Dr. Ronald J. Paler, Detroit District
1993-94 Dr. Jay A. Werschky, Genesee District
1994-95 Dr. Richard V. Brodoski, Macomb District
1995-96 Dr. Arnold M. Baker, West Michigan District
1996-97 Dr. David P. Borlas, Macomb District
1997-98 Dr. Richard L. Jankowski, Central District
1998-99 Dr. Michael D. Jennings, Detroit District
1999-00 Dr. Gary L. Zoutendam, Southwestern District
2000s
2000-01 Dr. Gary Y. Asano, Superior District
2000-01 Dr. Robert D. Mitus, Jr., West Michigan District (honorary)
2001-02 Dr. William R. Chase, Jackson District
2002-03 Dr. John S. Buchheister, Macomb District
2003-04 Dr. Raymond F. Gist, Genesee District
2004-05 Dr. George T. Goodis, Detroit District
2005-06 Dr. Josef Kolling, Washtenaw District
2006-07 Dr. Edwin Secord, Detroit District
2007-08 Dr. Steven Dater, West Michigan District
2008-09 Dr. Joanne Dawley, Detroit District
2009-10 Dr. William Wright, Jackson District
2009-10 Mrs. Gerri Cherney, Laingsburg (Honorary)
2010s
2010-11 Dr. Gary Jeffer, Detroit District
2011-12 Dr. Connie Verhagen, Muskegon District
2012-13 Dr. Jeffery W. Johnston, Macomb District
2013-14 Dr. Norman V. Palm, West Michigan District
2014-15 Dr. Martin Makowski, Macomb District
2015-16 Dr. Mark Johnston, Central District
2015-16 Grace DeShaw-Wilner, Okemos (Honorary)
2016-17 Dr. Larry DeGroat, Detroit District
2017-18 Dr. Michele Tulak-Gorecki, Macomb District
2018-19 Dr. Debra Peters, West Michigan District
2019-20 Dr. Margaret Gingrich, West Michigan District
2020s
2020-21 Dr. Stephen Meraw, Detroit District
2021-22 Dr. Michael Maihofer, Macomb District
2022-23 Dr. Vincent Benivegna, Central District
2023-24 Dr. Eric Knudsen, Cloverland District
2024-25 Dr. Todd Christy, Lakeland Valley
