In this year of the Chiropractic centennial and the unfortunate early loss of Dr. Grostic, Jr., I would like to recall some of my impressions and experiences with the Grostic work and Dr. Grostic himself.

Initially, I was introduced to the Grostic work by Dr. E. Striplin, who was a close friend of Dr. Grostic and an instructor in the Grostic classes. Dr. Striplin had retired from practice and was living in Florida when he heard of Dr. Grostic's work. He traveled to Ann Arbor and was so impressed with Dr. Grostic's work that he became a student of Dr. Grostic. He disciplined himself to the degree that he became a good adjustor. He went to start a part-time practice in Florida. He was 65 at the time.

One of Dr. Striplin's pleasures was to assist practicing Grostic doctors in developing a good adjustment. He would leave this home in July and visit small groups of Grostic practitioners, hold a two-day work session and then travel to another location, where a small group would gather. He traveled throughout the United States holding these work sessions during the months of July and August, and on his return trip home, he would stop in Ann Arbor and assist Dr. Grostic with his classes. It was on one of his trips to the west coast that I was first introduced to the Grostic work.

My first introduction to Ann Arbor was the Allenell Hotel. If you were fortunate enough to make your reservation early, approximately six months early, you would possibly get one of the rooms with a bathroom, otherwise, it was the bathroom at the end of the hall. The angulating floors throughout the hallways and bedrooms always had a humorous effects on the people staying at the hotel. I believe the only level floor in the entire hotel was the floor in the bar, and sometimes, that floor felt angulated.

Dr. Grostic insisted that every doctor attending the class had to receive a Grostic adjustment; therefore, you arrived at Dr. Grostic's office on the Saturday before the class. Dr. Grostic would pre x-ray, adjust, and post x-ray on Saturday and Sunday. This became my initial introduction to Dr. Grostic and his office. I remember going up one flight of stairs into a room filled with chiropractors, and somebody walking across this room with x-rays on their hangers, sometimes dripping wet. I later realized the x-ray room and adjusting rooms were at opposite sides of the reception room.

Dr. Grostic's examination and adjusting area consisted of a moderate size room, divided into 3 cubicles, each having an adjusting table, an examination area with three-drawer filing cabinets stacked on top of each other, a neurocalograph, and a neurotempometer. The neurocalograph pick-up unit was held to the gliding instrument (neurotempometer) with a section of a coat hanger, twisted to suit the task. I assumed the original part was somewhere for repairs, and the coat hanger was temporary. I later found out the unit had been like that for a number of years. He certainly was not out to impress anyone with his instruments. Following my first conversation with Dr. Grostic, I felt he was a humble man and very focused on what he was doing. The later years proved my initial impression was accurate.

Dr. Grostic's focus on his work and the classes he held, was demonstrated in many ways. One incident I recall had to do with his old, run-down car and Mrs. Grostic purchasing a new one for him. She purchased a new one since Dr. Grostic did not take the time and wasn't interested in a new one. At the time, Dr. Grostic was driving a Kaiser-Fraser car, approximately 10 years old, rusted body parts, and in desperate need of a new paint job and a motor. The car was parked in the parking lot adjacent to the American Legion Hall where the classes were held. Unknown to Dr. Grostic, Mrs. Grostic bought a beautiful, black Mercury car, had the vehicle delivered to the parking lot and had the old Kaiser-Fraser vehicle driven away. Following the morning session, we all walked outside to the parking lot to observe Dr. Grostic's reaction to the new car. Only one car was parked in the lot, the new Mercury. Dr. Grostic came out of the hall, walked to the space where he had left the Kaiser-Fraser, observed the new Mercury, looked around, couldn't find his and proceeded to walk to the downtown area for lunch. He was finally informed of what had occurred. This did not alter Dr. Grostic's thinking, he just kept on walking and would deal with the new car later. A new car did not impress Dr. Grostic.

I attended Dr. Grostic's classes at least twice a year, sometimes three times a year. The only bad experiences were the long, 12 hour propeller-driven aircraft flights; the one to two hour bus ride into Ann Arbor, arriving at the Allenell Hotel at 2 o'clock in the morning, sometimes without my luggage. The over-all experience was great and well worth the effort, since I also met some fine people: Dr. McAlphine, now deceased; the Humber brothers; Dr. R. Sweat; Dr. Wentland; Dr. Lloyd Pond, and many others.

I feel privileged to have met Dr. Grostic and in having been a part of the Grostic era. He was a great man, his humility, his avoidance of the limelight, and his focus on the task given him have left a lasting impression on me.

In my brief meetings with Dr. J. Grostic, Jr., I had the impression that he had the same attributes that his father had - the humility and confronting the task set before him. These characteristics made these two men outstanding.