A founding member of the Health Science Center Dental School, James Bauerle, D.D.S., M.S., F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D., died Feb. 6 in San Antonio. A clinical professor in oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Bauerle, 83, also was a member of The University of Texas System Board of Regents from January 1973 through January 1979.
While he was president of the Texas Dental Association in 1967-1968, he successfully lobbied the state legislature to bring the Dental School to San Antonio.
"At the time, the legislature was discussing creating a dental school and taking it to Dallas, but Dr. Bauerle felt passionately that San Antonio and South Texas needed it more," said Kenneth Kalkwarf, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the Dental School.
“Dr. Bauerle was among a group of leaders who played crucial roles in establishing the Health Science Center and the South Texas Medical Center,” President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., added. “He is one of the luminaries in Health Science Center history, and we are grateful for his life.”
Dr. Bauerle was born in the Texas Hill Country town of Hamilton Pool in Travis County and grew up in Sandy, near Johnson City. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas School of Pharmacy in 1943, he entered the U.S. Army and graduated from the St. Louis University School of Dentistry in 1946. During his military career, he was chief of oral surgery at Fort Bliss in El Paso and assistant chief of oral surgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington.
After leaving the military in 1952, he set up his practice in the Medical Arts Building in downtown San Antonio. He later moved to an office in Castle Hills, which featured his collections of Western art and artifacts, a “travel room” with Asian décor and a room dedicated to his alma mater, the University of Texas. He carried a full schedule of patients until February 2006.
During his career he mentored many students who sought to become dentists through the Health Science Center Dental School. Among his many professional honors was being named Texas Dentist of the Year in 1974. The Hugh B. Tilson Honorary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Society recently established an endowment in Dr. Bauerle’s name to support and advance the fields of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Dr. Bauerle is survived by his wife of 23 years, Charlotte; daughters Nancy Campbell of Austin, and Dianne Pool and Janet Anderson, both of San Antonio. He also is survived by three grandchildren, as well as his wife’s six grandchildren.
