TCC Hosts 20th Annual Gala

2/19/2011 - PASADENA, Texas - Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) hosted its 20th annual Gala on Saturday, Feb. 19, in the Houstonian Hotel’s Grande Ballroom. The theme of the evening was "The Strength and Future of Chiropractic."

Drs. Jack Christie, Kurt Juergens, and John Rice were recognized for serving as 2011 gala co-chairs for the event. All three co-chairs are alumni of TCC where Drs. Christie and Juergens serve on the TCC board of regents. Dr. Christie additionally serves as Vice Chairman of the regent board.  All three gala co-chairs are successful, practicing chiropractors in the Houston area and supporters of chiropractic education.

Always a popular event, the TCC Gala attracted nearly 300 guests this year including elected officials, members of the TCC Board of Regents, members of the TCC President’s Cabinet, TCC faculty, staff and many students.

The theme of the event was realized in two parts "The Strength" of chiropractic was demonstrated by the evening's master of ceremonies, Grand Master strongman Dennis Rogers. A patient of Dr. Juergens, Rogers performed feats of strength throughout the evening including rolling up a Teflon frying pan so tightly that it could fit through the band of a wrist watch, bending a horseshoe into a heart shape, driving a nail into a board by hand while it rested on a guest's lap, ripping a phone book in half and lifting a guest above his head while tearing a deck of cards in half.  Rogers is a former World Arm Wrestling Champion and is pound for pound, the strongest man in the world for the feats he performs.


Rogers also introduced "The Future" of chiropractic. Students who qualified for TCC’s Pathway to Excellence Scholarship program have been awarded scholarships valued at $2,000 per trimester as they maintain a 3.25 grade point average. The students; Dean Abboud, Jessie Gallegos, Kelley Humphries, Yeon Kim, Brandon Krupala, C.J. Ratliff, Tammy Tong, and Michael Crone were recognized at the event.


"These students are the best and the brightest of the student body, and they have already distinguished themselves as student leaders," President of TCC, Richard G. Brassard said. "They are truly the future of the chiropractic profession."

After an exciting live auction led by Houston-based auctioneer Vikki Vines and a successful silent auction, guests danced the night away to the sounds of the Doppleganger, the well-known houston area dance band.

“The Gala was another great evening," noted Bill Clements, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement at TCC. "I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored tables and purchased tickets, participated in the auctions, and took the time from their busy schedules to join us. I’d also like to thank the many area businesses that donated items for the auctions. It means a great deal to us at TCC that so many people continue to step up and support the college."

Those businesses include corporate sponsors NCMIC Insurance Group, Standard Process, Erchonia Laser Healthcare, Hampton Tax Group, Loomis International and GSM Insurors.

Also joining in the celebration were Pasadena Council woman Jackie Welch and her husband Bill Welch, a former Pasadena Councilman; James Guthrie, former Pasadena City Council Member; Mel Cowart, a long time TCC supporter; Dr. Shelby Elliott, past president of TCC; Dr. Keith Overland, American Chiropractic Association Vice President; Michelle Quattlebaum, representing NCMIC; Dr. Bill Ammonette, University of Houston - Clear Lake; and Dr. Tim Runnels, TCC Alumni Association president.

To see more photos of the Gala visit our Facebook and Flickr pages.