PINE KNOLL SHORES, NC, April 01, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Thomas Robert Tempel Sr. with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Tempel celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Having attained the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army, Dr. Tempel retired from the service in 1996. Commissioned as a Captain in 1963, he advanced through the grades and was ultimately promoted to Major General in 1990. He was shortly thereafter appointed to the position of Chief of the U.S. Army Dental Corps from 1990 to 1994 and as Deputy Surgeon General, US Army from 1994 to 1996. In total, Dr. Tempel provided more than 33 years of exemplary leadership, during which he had the opportunity to work with the Army Surgeon General Staff, the Department of Army, the Department of Defense, other Military Services, Congress and the civilian community in the U.S. and abroad in Germany. He especially enjoyed and appreciated working with and supporting officers, enlisted and civilian personnel at all levels of the Army Medical Department and the Army Dental Corps. He is notably the second of three generations to serve in the U.S. Army Medical Department and become Major Generals.
During his military professional career, Dr. Tempel was recognized as an accomplished clinician, educator, administrator and dental scientist. He contributed numerous articles to various professional journals and gave many presentations on sensory physiology of teeth, immunological aspects of inflammatory disease, periodontal disease pathology, clinical periodontics, preventive dentistry, professional fitness, military topics and leadership.
Thomas completed all Pre Dental academic requirements in two years at Kemper Military College in Boonville, Missouri and was accepted into Dental School. As a Graduate of Kemper, he credits the school and his parents with instilling principals of character, honesty, leadership, fitness, selfless service, love of country, concern for others and academics that continue to serve him well. After graduating with a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Pennsylvania on May 20, 1963, Dr. Tempel married Elaine Mary Gardner of Waverly, Pa. on May 22, 1963. It was love at first sight when Thomas met Elaine as a Dental Hygiene student at Penn in 1961. She graduated in 1962 and worked as a Dental Hygienist. Elaine proved to be an amazing army wife, considered by many to be the toughest job in the Army. Thomas credits Elaine for being a tower of strength, support and love for him, their children and the Army during his military career and in retirement. Thomas and Elaine are very proud of their three children, all with strong happy families and all with successful careers. Their seven grandchildren are a major joy in their lives. After 57 years of marriage Thomas believes his love and happiness with Elaine is still growing stronger with each passing day.
Newly commissioned Captain and Mrs. Tempel reported to Madigan General Hospital, Ft. Lewis Washington in July 1963 for a one year Dental Internship. Their next assignment was in Germany where Capt. Tempel was assigned to the 8th Medical Battalion, 8th Infantry Division as Division Dental Surgeon, 1964-5. In 1965-6 he was promoted to Major and appointed Chief of the Coleman, Dental Clinic in Coleman Barracks. Major Tempel later completed his residency in 1971 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a clinical periodontist and Guest Scientist at the National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland. His next assignment was Letterman Army Institute of Research, Presidio of San Francisco where he did research, teaching and clinical periodontics until 1974. After promotion to Lt. Colonel, he was sent to the University of Kansas and he received his Master of Science in Education Administration degree in 1976. His next assignment was Deputy Commander, US Army Institute of Dental Research, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC, 1976. He was promoted to Colonel in 1979 and graduated from the Army War College in 1982. He then Commanded the 123rd Medical Detachment, Dental Service, Wurzburg, Germany for one year and then he was assigned as Senior Dental Corps Staff Officer, office of the Chief Army Dental Corps, Army Medical Department in the Pentagon. Colonel Tempel was promoted to Brigadier General in 1986 and assigned as Deputy Commander, 7th Medical Command, Heidelberg Germany.
Until retirement in 1996 Dr. Tempel was a fellow of the American College of Dentists. He was also a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology, the International Association of Dental Research and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. He is a current member of the Association of the United States Army, the Military Officers Association of America and the Association of Army Dentistry. He is a Life Member of the Army War College Foundation and a Life Member of the Friends of Fort Macon. In honor of his outstanding military career he received numerous awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal with Oakleaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with Oakleaf Cluster, a Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oakleaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Oakleaf Cluster and the Overseas Ribbon. He was also awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge and the German Sports Efficiency Badge in Gold. He also received the Army Surgeon General's "A" proficiency designator for a clinical specialty. In Dental School because of his outstanding scholarship, service and general ability he was elected to membership in two honor fraternities, Omicron Kappa Upsilon(OKU) and the Matthew H. Cryer Chapter of Eta Sigma Sigma. Dr. Tempel is a retired Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
Upon retirement in March 1996, Dr. Tempel (Tom) and his wife Elaine moved to Pine Knoll Shores, NC to build their final home (their 23rd home together), pursue hobbies and serve his town and county as volunteers. Handy with hand and power tools Tom's first volunteer job was as one of 12 construction captains to build Shevan's Park Playground for children in Morehead City NC. It was planned for months and completed in 5 days, 14-18 May 1997 with many volunteers with each construction captain and two shifts of work each day. His 7 grandchildren loved the park as did many others and it was well used until 2019 when it was replaced with more modern and safer play stations. 1998-2005 Tom was a Tour Guide at Ft Macon State Park a Civil War harbor fort and also used for artillery during WWII. 1998- 2002 Tom was Task Force Project Manager to develop a Carteret County Mobile Dental Clinic to provide comprehensive dental care for children on MEDICADE at the County Schools. This required doing a survey of dental care needs, building a team, planning, raising over ½ million dollars, developing clinical and business plan, construction, hiring staff and holding an opening dedication ceremony in 2002. The clinic is still seeing lots of children with dental care needs in 2020 with a wonderful dentist and staff providing quality care. 1998-2006 Tom was a juried member of the Carteret County Arts and Crafts Coalition as a woodcarver of stylized shore birds, fish and other objects. 2001 Tom was appointed to the Carteret County Health Board and was Chairman2003-06. 1999-03 he was President of the Cape Lookout Fly Fishing Club, Crystal Coast, NC, for Saltwater fly fishing.
2003-05 he was a member of the Pine Knoll Shores (PKS), Planning Board. 2005-08 Tom was Citizen Leader of the Pine Knoll Shores, Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT). 2008-9 he was President, Saltwater Light Tackle Fishing Club. 2006-11 he was a fly tying volunteer and instructor, NC Aquarium in PKS. 2008-11 he served on WWII and Veterans Memorial Garden Committee in PKS. 2008-18 Tom served on the Association of Army Dentistry Board. 2013-15 he served on the Vestry, Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church. May 2011, Tom was a Guardian for 3 WWII Veterans on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC, WWII Memorial. Finally 2013-16 he was on the Crystal Coast Country Club Board and President 2016. A celebrated Marquis listee, Dr. Tempel has been included in the 47th, 48th, 50th and 51st editions of Who's Who in America.
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