Mount Graham Dental began in 1964 when Dr. Kay D. Curtis bought the practice of Dr. Merlin Peay next to the Post Office in Safford. Dr. Curtis practiced there until 1967. At that time it was proposed that Dr. Curtis buy the building, which he was reluctant to do. Dr. Darrel Cluff, whose dental office was across the street, suggested that Dr. Curtis join with him as he was intending to retire soon. Dr. Curtis then moved across the street and joined Dr. Cluff, who retired a year or two later.
In 1972, Dr. Marden Alder and Dr. Curtis formed a partnership and built an office at the present location. In 1985, Dr. Alder left the practice for health reasons. At that time, Dr. Eric Curtis, Dr. Kay Curtis’ son graduated from UOP School of Dentistry in San Fransisco. However, prior to joining the practice, Dr. Eric attended 18 months of graduate dentistry in Lousanne, Switzerland at the University of Lousanne.
Dr. Eric joined the practice in 1987. About that time, Dr. Damon Don joined the practice augmenting the practice with expertise in periodontics. Dr. Don had been a close friend of Dr. Eric in dental school and had gone on to study periondontics and open a practice in Tucson.
Mount Graham Dental also had an oral surgeon from Tucson, Dr. Eugene Toone in the office one day per week for about 20 years. Susan Welker Whitmer was a hygienist for many years.
At the present time the practice is in the hands of Dr. Eric Curtis, Dr. Damon Don continues to provide periondontal services and Dr. Kay Curtis is nearing retirement after more than 61 years in dentistry, 54 years of which have been in Safford. His other years include internships at the US Public Health Service Hospital in Seattle, 2 + years with the US Coast Guard Air Station, Port Angeles, Washington, and several years as an assistant professor of crown and bridge prosthesis at the University of California, San Francisco.
Present dental personnel include Dr. Eric’s daughter, hygienist Jillian Curtis and hygienist Bonnie Richardson.