Dr. Anne Ream speaks to the crowd at the opening of the Missouri Optometry Hall of Fame. Ream talked about the lasting impact of her fellow inductees, the late Dr. James A. DeClue, the late Dr. Robert A. Koetting and the late Dr. Frank Fontana. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

On Tuesday afternoon, members of the University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Optometry, representatives from the Missouri Optometric Association and other members of the local optometric community gathered on the second floor of the Patient Care Center to celebrate the opening of the first-ever Missouri Optometry Hall of Fame.

“Today, we’re going to celebrate four individuals whose leadership and vision have shaped optometry in the state of Missouri and beyond,” Dean Dr. Keshia Elder said in her welcome remarks. “They really represent the best in our field. We are very proud to partner with the Missouri Optometric Association to create this space here that not only honors these four pioneers but also reminds us of the impact that optometry has on our community.”

Located on the second floor of the Patient Care Center on UMSL’s South Campus, the Missouri Optometry Hall of Fame recognizes four influential optometrists who have each played a pivotal role in cultivating the field of optometry across the state of Missouri.

The inaugural recipients are Dr. Anne Ream., the late Dr. James A. DeClue, the late Dr. Robert A. Koetting and the late Dr. Frank Fontana.

The inaugural Hall of Fame recipients are:

• Dr. James A. DeClue, civil rights advocate, St. Louis NAACP president and one of the founders of the National Optometric Association, which sought to address disparities in eye care by serving historically underserved communities and promoting greater diversity within optometry
• Dr. Frank Fontana, an internationally recognized speaker, mentor and advocate for optometric educators and a leader in the contact lens industry
• Dr. Robert A. Koetting, developer of the Tachistoscreen, founder of the first contact lens-only specialty practice in the United States and an internationally recognized pioneer in the contact lens industry
• Dr. Anne Ream, a member of the first UMSL College of Optometry Class of 1984, the first woman to serve as president of the Missouri Optometric Association and a tireless advocate for Missouri optometry

The Hall of Fame is a collaboration between UMSL’s College of Optometry and the Missouri Optometric Association. Dr. Mark Curtis, a committee member for the MOA, first approached Dr. Angel Novel Simmons, associate dean of student services and alumni relations who is also a member of the MOA, about the idea over a year ago. College of Optometry staff and faculty members, including Dr. Vinita Henry, associate dean of clinical operations and a clinical professor, and Janice White, graphic designer in the College of Optometry, have played a pivotal role in bringing the project to life.

Ream – the only living recipient of the award – attended Tuesday’s grand opening and shared personal anecdotes and tributes to the other honorees, celebrating their contributions to optometry and society at large. She was joined by Dr. Bob Koetting and Thomas Koetting, sons of Dr. Robert A. Koetting, and Frank Fontana, the son of Dr. Frank Fontana, who accepted the awards on behalf of their fathers.

Ream’s father was an optometrist, and she grew up around the local optometric community – her family even planned vacations around optometric conventions – so she was well-aware of the impact of her fellow honorees from an early age.

“This is a big honor, and this is pretty rich company,” Ream said to the crowd. “What made these honorees larger than life was they did more for other lives, too. Dr. DeClue was really instrumental in the civil rights movement. For years, he gave of himself and really made a big difference both nationally and locally. He was a humanitarian. He put his money where his mouth was. He walked the walk and talked the talk.

“Dr. Fontana was a networker extraordinaire. He was called Uncle Frank lovingly because he knew everybody and never forgot you or your family or your kids or anything; anywhere you ran onto him, he was always the same Uncle Frank. He mentored hundreds of people, and if you had an interest, he knew somebody that could help you, and he was always kind and generous with his support.

“Dr. Koetting was a big figure in St. Louis. He loved the arts. He was a GQ dresser. He was always at every function, dressed to the nines. And later in his life, not only did he and Dr. Fontana pioneer the contact lens field, but he set himself up as a practice management authority. I hope we just line these halls with many more people. It’s the best profession there could be.”

Founded in 1901, the Missouri Optometric Association aims to represent the optometric profession to government, third parties, and the public; to promote continued optometric education; to assist members in conducting successful practices with the highest standards of patient care and efficiency; and to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of eye and vision care.