Dentist Dr. Bill Roe retires in Pinckneyville

There have been a lot of changes in dental technology over the past 41 years.

"The last five years have just been fantastic," said Dr. Bill Roe, who is preparing to retire Sept. 1.

Over his career, the materials became more sophisticated and the equipment improved by leaps and bounds. All X-rays are now digital and robots view the film then build the appropriate crown for patients.

On Thursday of last week, the first four patients he saw had been his patients since he joined the Chapman-Roe Dental practice on W. South Street in Pinckneyville. There he worked with Dr. Herb Chapman, who is now retired, and his sons, Drs. Ralph and Nathan Chapman.

Roe is a graduate of Pinckneyville Community High School. He was working on a Master's Degree in Biology at SIU-Carbondale when he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. One of his professors, Dr. Downen, encouraged him to ask for assignment to a classified program studying both chemical warfare and drug research, which was created after World War II. Roe was accepted into the program and served his time as a research assistant in a lab during his two years of service.

It was there that he associated with a lot of doctors and dentists. Once out of the Army, he chose to be a dentist. He graduated from the dental school at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

He immediately returned to Pinckneyville where he and his wife, Mary, raised three children. Son, David, is a doctor, and daughters, Sarah and Julie, are both attorneys. David and Julie both live in Indianapolis, Ind. and Sarah lives in St. Louis, Mo.

Over the years the Roes have been tapped to serve on numerous boards, foundations and citizens groups in Pinckneyville and the region. They have done so, setting a great example for their small-town peers. The Roes truly exemplify community service.

Dr. Roe resists listing all of the various community groups and church programs he has helped with over the years, dismissing a list as self-serving.

The one board he did choose to single-out was the Five Star Board in Du Quoin. He is proud of the work the organization does for the community. He also has great praise for those who handle the summer food program at the Methodist Church each year. He helped get the program started.

"I'm an instigator," Dr. Roe says. He adds that Lori Schmidt took over the program and has been running it very well for the past few years. Cathy Keller is the cook and does a wonderful job. Other community churches work with the program, as well. Each church provides volunteers one day a week.

Dr. Roe is currently a member of the Pinckneyville Community Hospital Board of Directors and Friends of Pyramid State Park, among other boards. The Friends of Pyramid State Park are working to lay the groundwork for future development of the 20,000 acres in the largest state park in Illinois.

The facilities there are very primitive. The group works on small projects as they plan, hoping to bring more people to the park in the future. It is a great resource for Pinckneyville and neighboring communities.

Mrs. Roe continues to serve on the ManTraCon Workforce Investment Board. Dr. Roe also sees great value in the work done by ManTraCon and Rend Lake College. He served on the Rend Lake College Foundation Board while his wife was employed by the junior college.

Retirement will not change anything. Dr. Roe says he has no plans.

"I'm going to drive my wife nuts," Dr. Roe says with enthusiasm. His wife, Mary, retired as Vice President of Student Affairs at Rend Lake College seven years ago. He said they plan to continue antiquing and visiting their children and nine grandchildren.

"

But only for two days at a time," Dr. Roe says, citing Benjamin Franklin's adage about fish and house guests beginning to smell after three days.