Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 07, 2014

Saying that dentistry is a Lawhead family tradition is no overstatement. From his grandfather, to his father and then on to him, Collus Lawhead is a third generation Mount Ayr dentist.

It all started 100 years ago, in June 1914, when Dr. C.C. Lawhead joined Dr. Clark's practice in Mount Ayr. Dr. Lawhead worked two days in Mount Ayr with Dr. Clark, two days in Redding with Dr. Fullerton and two days with Dr. Reynolds in Caledonia. He continued this routine until he opened his own practice in the upstairs of a drug store.

Dr. C.C. Lawhead practiced dentistry for at least 40 years before retiring. Fun fact: Dr. C.C. Lawhead's brother-in-law, Dr. Raymond Leazenby, practiced dentistry in Mount Ayr with Lawhead. Just another family member with dentistry in their blood.

Next in the line of family dentists was Collus' father, Dr. Charles Lawhead. Dr. Lawhead worked for 38 years before retiring. He began assisting his father, Dr. C.C. Lawhead, before taking over the practice from him.

Dr. Collus Lawhead was next to come for the family of dentists. Collus graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1966 and then from the University of Iowa in 1970. In 1974, he graduated from dental school and bought Dr. B.W. Knight's practice. Around 1976, Dr. Collus Lawhead joined his father's practice.

"I always liked dentistry," said Lawhead. "I liked the people I worked with."

Dr. Lawhead liked seeing the families, watching children grow and the town do well.

And an you guess who else is a dentist? Collus' younger brother practices dentistry in Muscatine.

After having to call it quits in dentistry because of medical reasons, Dr. Collus Lawhead doesn't have any specific plans, but he enjoys singing in the First Christian Church choir, helping with vacation Bible school and golfing.

However, the family tradition isn't done. Collus' nephew just graduated from the University of Iowa and is going to dental school soon. Who knows, maybe some day we will have another Lawhead practicing dentistry in Mount Ayr.

After 45 years of practice, Dr. Max Mekus has closed the door on his Mount Ayr Veterinary Clinic, and as of July 31 Dr. Mekus is officially retired.

It all started in Milo, a little town 30 miles southeast of Des Moines. This is where Dr. Mekus grew up watching his uncle as the town's veterinarian. Mekus enjoyed his uncle's lifestyle and the respect he was given by the town. His uncle was probably the main reason why Dr. Mekus became veterinarian.

Mekus attended Grand View University and Drake University for his undergraduate degree in biology. He then decided to apply to the Iowa State University Veterinarian School.

"I didn't think I would get in," said Dr. Mekus, "but I figured the worst that would happen would be they didn't accept me. If they didn't, I was going to become an accountant."

Before Mekus attended veterinary school, he worked for what is now known as Principal Life Insurance Company in Des Moines. However, Mekus was accepted and graduated from Iowa State University in 1969.

That was the same year Dr. Mekus moved Mount Ayr to start practicing with Dr. Max Pwol. And in 1971, Dr. Mekus bought the vet clinic from Dr. Pwol. Mekus also gained a partner that year, his friend from college, Dr. John Peters, who retired in 2008.

In 1980, Barbara Christner joined the veterinary clinic as the office manager.

"She is a very valuable asset around here. Actually, when people have questions about medications and such, some prefer to talk to her!" laughed Dr. Mekus. Christner will also be leaving this year after 34 years of working at the clinic.

When asked why he became a vet, Dr. Mekus answered with he enjoys working with the livestock, people who own animals and the profession in general.

Mekus said veterinary medicine always keeps him on his toes. "You learn something new every day, even after 45 years," he said.

This is why Mekus won't be completely leaving the practice. Although he officially retired on July 31, he still will be working with a few clients that he holds contracts with.

As for retirement, Dr. Mekus doesn't have any specific ideas on what he plans to do.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2014