M. Webster Prince, DDS, practiced dentistry in Detroit for 40 years. He had distinguished himself as president of the Michigan State Dental Association and as a member of the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association (ADA). In fact, he had been Chair of the American Dental Association’s accrediting council for 16 years.
Dr. J. Russell Mitchell and Dr. Prince had met professionally as delegates to the national meetings of the American Dental Association. As their friendship developed they discovered that they were both avid fishermen. Dr. Prince accepted Dr. Mitchell’s invitations to visit favorite fishing areas and in so doing the two became close friends. During that time, Prince learned about Seventh-day Adventists. Mitchell didn’t smoke or drink. He made such a good impression on Dr. Prince that Prince eventually became a Seventh-day Adventist himself. He helped organize the National Association of Seventh-day Adventist Dentists (NASDAD). This happened on August 15, 1943, at the SDA denomination’s Michigan camp meeting in Grand Ledge.
As President of NASDAD, Dr. Prince presented a paper stressing the need to forge ahead and take immediate steps toward founding the school. He recommended, for the purpose of minimum delay and financial advantage, that the new dental school should be associated with the College of Medical Evangelists (CME) in Loma Linda. He also proposed that a committee be appointed to secure General Conference approval of the project, as well as union and local conference support. Dr. Prince’s address was received enthusiastically.
Following the approval of the denomination to establish a school of dentistry, the CME Board of Trustees began the task of putting together a faculty and curriculum. On January 31, 1952, it appointed a committee to recommend a dean, and to bring its recommendation to the Board immediately following lunch. When the meeting resumed at 1:30 p.m., the Board voted to appoint Dr. Prince, a 1910 graduate of the University of Michigan, to become the school’s first dean. Observers felt that providentially God had placed him in this strategic position to guide the formation of a Seventh-day Adventist school of dentistry. His last name was said to be a fit description of the man.
Between January 30 and February 26, 1953, Dr. Prince interviewed prospective students at Seventh-day Adventist colleges in North America. Following this trip, he outlined something of his vision for the future in the May 1953, CME Alumni Journal: “CME School of Dentistry expects to take its place among the recognized dental schools of this country. Such recognition must be earned. No effort is being spared to make this a good school.”
But on January 28, 1954, a few months after the first dental class began, all plans for a School of Dentistry building almost collapsed. This was not long after the end of World War II. Economic conditions in the West were not strong, and local funds were limited. Board Chair William H. Branson made the unwelcome announcement that, due to financial constraints, the construction of the proposed dental school building would have to be delayed, possibly for five years. Dean Prince, the faculty, and students attending the meeting were shocked and dismayed! The board suggested that Quonset huts be provided as temporary quarters for the School of Dentistry.
In an eloquent plea, Dean Prince advised the Board that accreditation by the American Dental Association would certainly be denied due to inadequate facilities—and the first dental class diplomas would be worthless! Firmly, he stated that he had not worked and planned for 10 years, sold his established practice and home in Detroit, and accepted the position as dean to preside over a Quonset-hut operation.
Moved by his passion, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the expenditure of more than $1,000,000 for construction of the dental school. A little over a year later, on September 18, 1955, the School of Dentistry building was dedicated. An audience of more than 1,000 gathered for the dedication ceremony that was part of CME’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration. The hurdle of accreditation further benefited from Dr. Prince’s long years of membership on the Council on Dental Education and his intimate acquaintance with other institutions and their deans. The site visitors, knowing that Dr. Prince had been in charge of the accreditation procedures of the American Dental Association for 16 years, good-naturedly teased him. “We know what you demanded of all these other colleges,” they stated, before promising to see to it that his new school also met the ADA requirements.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation’s site-visit in 1957 was thorough, but its report, almost a foregone conclusion. Just one month before graduation ceremonies for the first class, on May 23, 1957, CME’s new School of Dentistry received full accreditation by the American Dental Association. This status has been maintained to this day, but achieving accreditation on a first site visit is most unusual.
On January 28, 1970, in honor of its first dean, Loma Linda University named the School of Dentistry building, “M. Webster Prince Hall.”