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Tom Mulligan was born in
Grand Forks,
North Dakota. One of ten children, Tom attended
St. Alphonsus grade
school and high school in
Langdon,
North Dakota, where he played basketball, baseball and
football.
In 1953, Tom left St. John's University,
Minnesota, for the U.S. Army,
and served in the Far East with the 82nd Field Artillery
Battalion, lst Cavalry Division, until 1955. After playing football in the Army
and Phoenix College, he met Maria Teresa de Blas from Caracas, Venezuela
while he was finishing his pre-dental program in Phoenix and then married her
at the end of his first year in dental school. Tom and Teresa
now have six sons and two daughters, twenty-one grandchildren
and two
great grandchildren.
Tom
received
his D.D.S. degree from
Marquette
University in 1960
and was elected to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. After graduation from
orthodontics
at the University of Indiana in 1962 with an M.S.D. degree, Tom
then began
his orthodontic practice in
Phoenix,
Arizona,
where he has since resided and practiced. It wasn’t long before
lecturing soon became an integral part of his life because of his
interest and excitement in the area of biomechanics. Tom continues
to practice while doing clinical research as new solutions to old
problems continue to be an exciting and integral part of his orthodontic
life, which thus far has included giving lectures and courses
throughout the world for more than forty-eight years, as well as
over
eighty University courses in both the U.S. and foreign countries.
See
Curriculum Vitae.
In addition to having held numerous offices, both inside and outside of
dentistry, Tom served on the
St. Joseph’s
Hospital Staff for almost 25 years. He has also published
twenty-five scientific articles on biomechanics in the Journal of Clinical
Orthodontics, as well as numerous articles in both U.S.
and foreign journals. His three books on biomechanics have
been translated into several languages. In addition, he has produced
several audio-cassette albums on mechanics as well as an audio-
cassette album discussing the subject of “Investing for Retirement,”
designed to help the younger orthodontists to prepare for retirement
without depending on higher orthodontic fees as retirement age
approaches. See
Publications.
His many interests outside of orthodontics have included boating,
sailing, flying and jogging. Tom also possesses a commercial pilot’s license
and has a multi-engine rating as well as being instrument
rated. He insists that none of these has brought nearly the satisfaction
which has come from having a wonderful wife and eight very healthy and
successful children.
“Common Sense Mechanics” is a result of his deep belief that
“everyone is born with music, but many never discover
what their music might be. There can be no greater tragedy in life than
for people to take their music to the grave.” When the creator
makes his final call, Tom Mulligan hopes he will have left his
music behind for others to enjoy.
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