President Richard G. Brassard, D.C.

President, Texas Chiropractic College

President, Association of Chiropractic Colleges

Past President, American Chiropractic Association

A native of Beaumont, Texas, Dr. Richard G. Brassard is the son of the late Dr. Gerald M. (Jerry) and May Wurtele Brassard, who were originally from Manchester, N.H., before relocating to Beaumont. Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a respected and admired leader in the chiropractic profession, Dr. Brassard was graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, in 1965. He has postgraduate training from Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) in Roentgenology and Physical Therapy, and received an Impairment and Disability Rating from TCC in 1991. He is licensed to practice in both Texas and New Hampshire.

In his 40 years since graduation from Palmer, Dr. Brassard has been elected or appointed to numerous positions within the chiropractic field at the local, state and national levels. Notable among these is his affiliation with the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) where he was elected a Texas Alternate Delegate to the ACA House of Delegates in 1984, became a Texas Delegate in 1989, was elected Vice President of the Council of Delegates in 1999, became President of that Council in August 2001, elected Vice President of the ACA in 2003 and elected President of the ACA in September 2005 and re-elected September 2006. Dr. Brassard completed his second term as ACA President in September 2007.

Prior to that, Dr. Brassard had been active at the state level where he was Secretary of the Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA) from 1979 – 1980, President-elect of the TCA from 1980 – 1981, and President of the Association from 1981 – 1982. From 1982 to 1983, Dr. Brassard was President of the Texas Insurance and Chiropractic Joint Advisory Committee. In August 1977, the Governor of Texas appointed him to a six-year term on the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Dr. Brassard became President of that organization from 1983 – 1984. He is a diplomate of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractic (FICC), (honorary), and a Fellow of the American College of Chiropractors (F.A.C.C) in March 2007. In March 2011 he became President of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges.

Dr. Brassard’s long alliance with Texas Chiropractic College began in July 1985, when he was appointed to the college’s Board of Regents. He held that position until 1991, was reappointed in July 1995, and remained on the Board until January 2002, serving as Chairman since August 1999. On January 1, 2002, he was appointed President-elect of TCC and became President on January 1, 2004.

Throughout his chiropractic career, Dr. Brassard has been recognized for his level of excellence within the profession. In 1969, he received the Presidential Award from the ACA. Dr. Brassard was named Texas Young Chiropractor of the Year for 1975 – 1976 and received the TCA’s Presidential Award in 1977. The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners presented him its Presidential Award in 1983, and the ACA again recognized Dr. Brassard with its Meritorious Service Award in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, and presented him its Distinguished Service Award in 1989 and 1990. The TCA honored Dr. Brassard with its highest award, the Keeler Plaque, in June 1991, naming him the Texas Chiropractor of the Year.  Texas Chiropractic College honored Dr. Brassard on July 27th, 2002, when he received the prestigious W. D. Harper Science of Existence Award, TCC’s most treasured recognition. In September 2005, the American Chiropractic Association presented him with its Executive Committee Award. The plaque displayed a quote from Walter Lippmann which said, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.”

An active member of his community, Dr. Brassard’s civic affiliations over the years have included the Beaumont Lions Club, the Beaumont Jaycees, the Jefferson County March of Dimes, the Jefferson County Democratic Party, and the Boy Scouts. The Governor of Texas appointed him to a six-year term (1971 – 1977) on the Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth, and he was also appointed to the Texas Industrial Accident Board Legislative Advisory Committee in 1982 by that committee’s chairman.  Dr. Brassard is currently a member of the Pasadena Rotary Club.

Dr. Brassard was a member of St. Judes Thaddeus Catholic Church in Beaumont where he was a Eucharistic Minister from 1990 to 2001. He has been associated in different capacities with the 1st Texas Bank of Vidor, Vidor Bank Corp., Orange Bank, and Hibernia National Bank. Dr. Brassard sold his Chiropractic Clinic in Beaumont in 2003, which was established by his father more than 50 years ago. He has three daughters – Michelle Golden, DeNae Lee-Brassard and Tracy Lynn Holst.