Our History

Our History

All in the Family: The story of a family of 15 dentists over the span of 167 years

It all began when Frank Rue married Emma Bull, the daughter of Dr. Alonzo Decalvus Bull, a dentist, on Christmas Day, 1873. This union produced seven generations of dentists to the present day. Alonzo Decalvus Bull was an 1856 graduate of Mission Dental College in St. Louis, the forerunner of the Washington University School of Dental Medicine, named in 1974 and subsequently changed its name several times, closed out in the 1980s.

His sons Herman and Henry, who are also Emma Bull’s two brothers, both graduated from the same school in 1872 and 1874, respectively.

Grandsons Alonzo William Rue graduated in 1896, Harry Frank Rue graduated in 1898, and Charles Wyckoff graduated around the turn of the century – all from Washington University School of Dental Medicine.

Emma’s two sons, A. W. and Harry both graduated from Washington University School of Dental Medicine. Harry died before he could start his practice, but A. W. practiced dentistry at 10 West Third Street, Alton, Missouri, for almost 50 years. Emma’s daughter, Helen, had two sons, Gordon and Franklin, who became dentists.

Also in the family, William Terrell graduated in 1902, Barclay S. Wyckoff in 1926, Gordon Alonzo Smith in 1928, and Franklin Rue Smith graduated in 1929 – all from Washington University. Dr. Franklin Rue Smith served as Arizona Dental Association’s President in 1939.

Edward H. Hunter, Jr., also in the family tree, graduated in 1941, and Franklin’s son, Frederick, also joined the ranks of family dentists, graduating from Washington University in 1963.

Two other family members also attended Washington University School of Dental Medicine, William Terrell, who settled in Salt Lake City, and Edward H. Hunter who practiced in St. Louis. All of the above graduated from Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis.

Catherine Joan Smith, daughter of Dr. Fred R. Smith, is a 1989 graduate of Washington University, as well. She was actively practicing dentistry and orthodontics through the early part of 2023. Cathey married a dentist, Michael Papademetriou also a graduate of Washington University so there are two more in one family.

Dr. Fred R. Smith’s youngest son, Michael Alan Smith, applied to Washington University School of Dental Medicine; however, the school closed and subsequently, Michael Alan Smith enrolled and graduated from the University of Louisville Dental School in Louisville, KY in 1993 receiving his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Dr. Michael A. Smith is currently the principal of The Biting Edge, a Phoenix, AZ dental practice dedicated to Aesthetic, Contemporary Restorative, Orthodontic, and Cosmetic Reconstruction.

Soon to Graduate is the daughter of Catherine Smith and Michael Papademetriou. Stephanie Papademetriou Stevenson will graduate from AT Still Dental School in May of 2023 to make the eighth generation and 15th member of the family to join the dental profession.

Eight generations of the same family chose dentistry as their life profession for the Rue, Bull, Smith Dental legacy. Think about all the impact one family has had in preserving oral health since 1856, now that is something to Smile about.

For more information or to schedule a consultation appointment, please call our office at (602) 279-7312 OR Contact Us

Address

721 W. Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021

Phone Number

(602) 279-7312

 

Email

info@thebitingedge.com

 

Opening Hours

Mon, Tue, Thu – 8 am to 5 pm

Wed – 9 am to 6 pm

Fri, Sat, Sun – closed