92 Leadership SPEAKERS OF THE CONGRESS OF DELEGATES CHARLES SAUTER, DO, FACOFP It was the custom from the formation of the ACOFP Congress of Delegates for the president to appoint the speaker of the congress for one day. When the congress adjourned, the speaker was released. For more than 20 years, that job fell to one person, Dr. Charles Sauter. He would establish many of the protocols and customs of the congress, some still utilized today. T. EUGENE ZACHARY, DO, FACOFP It goes without saying that the most visible figure of leadership within ACOFP was Dr. Zachary, of Fort Worth, Texas. President Robert G. Haman, DO, FACOFP, a fellow Texan, appointed Dr. Zachary as vice speaker in 1980. When speaker Dr. Sauter was unable to be present at the 1981 congress meeting, Dr. Zachary was appointed by the president to fill the vacant position. With a keen knowledge of parliamentary procedure and a commanding, booming voice, he quickly stood out as the only logical choice to succeed Dr. Sauter. By the end of the annual meeting, Dr. Zachary was elected as the permanent speaker of the Congress of Delegates. He admits that it was a challenge to take over with less than a year of mentoring, but his two decades of continuous service to ACOFP and the AOA as the speaker of both organizations stands as a testament to his abilities. A native Texan, Dr. Zachary received his bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University in 1955 and then went to the Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery (now KCUCOM) for his osteopathic degree, graduating in 1959. He returned to the Dallas area and Dallas Osteopathic Hospital to complete his internship from 1959 to 1960. Dr. Zachary then entered general practice and had a very active career of service to his patients. In 1975, Dr. Zachary became certified in family practice, and he recertified in 1994. He was nominated and installed as a fellow in 1977. His love of academics led Dr. Zachary to the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) in 1980 and the Department of Family Practice as an associate professor. That would qualify him for the eventual appointment as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, of which TCOM is a part. He served with distinction in that office until his retirement at the turn of the 21st century. Dr. Zachary was always active in medical political affairs and medical education from the day he started practice. He worked closely with every leader that lived outside of California who is mentioned in this history. He credits colleagues like Dr. Haman and Dr. T. Robert Sharp, with encouraging him to become speaker. It was president Royce K. Keilers, DO, FACOFP, who initiated the policy that made the speaker an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors, and Dr. Zachary was a part of every board meeting after that policy change. From the rostrum, Dr. Zachary witnessed the evolution of osteopathic medicine. This profession owes much to this man, who served longer in leadership than any other. Some say, as a Texan, Dr. Zachary blended
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2NjI=