The N. Rex Ghormley Fund

Dr. N. Rex Ghormley Past-President of the American Academy of Optometry passed away November 4, 2009. He graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry in 1964. During the Vietnam War he served as a Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1967. He began the private practice of optometry in St. Louis in 1970.

Regionally, Dr. Ghormley served on the Advisory Committee of the UM-St. Louis School of Optometry and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor continued yearly to educate students at the school and in his private practice. He served on the Heart of America Contact Lens Society Board of Directors from 1976 to 1982 and was President in 1980. During his years of leadership on the Board the meeting grew from a local event to the major regional meeting it is today.

Nationally, Dr. Ghormley served 14 years on the Executive Council of the American Academy of Optometry from 1980 to 1994 where he helped make the Academy’s Annual Meeting one of the top educational meetings in Optometry. While serving as President from 1991-1992, he was instrumental in the genesis and execution of International Academy Meetings. From 1994 to 1999 he was Chair of the Academy's Corporate Financial Support Committee.

Dr. Ghormley was a Diplomate of the Academy's Section on Cornea and Contact Lenses and a charter member of the AOA Section on Contact Lenses. His educational contributions to Optometry include being Co-Editor of International Contact Lens Clinic for over a decade. He performed clinical research with every major corporation in the pharmaceutical and contact lens field. He educated the profession nationally and internationally as a welcomed lecturer in the field of contact lenses and anterior segment.

Dr. Ghormley was named "Optometrist of the Year" in 1985 by the Heart of America Society and recognized as Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academy of Practice in Optometry in 1987. He received the St. Louis Optometric Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, the 2003 AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section Achievement Award and the 2006 American Academy of Optometry Emminent Service Award.

Friend and practice partner David B. Seibel, OD, FAAO offered this personal reflection:

"Rex leaves in his wake countless optometrists and ophthalmologists world wide enabled with his knowledge and passion for caring for patients. This commitment never wavered as he continued to provide exceptional care to his patients up until just weeks before his passing. I was truly blessed to have the opportunity to work day after day with him for over 22 years. Without Rex's guidance I am sure I would not be a Diplomate of the Academy today--an achievement that continues to give back to my patients and me each day. In his last days he only wanted to be with friends, family and to heal his patients. His passion of healing patients lives on in his request for charitable donations to be given to the American Optometric Foundation. My mentor, my friend, you will be dearly missed."

Dr. Ghormley is survived by his loving wife Sandy, his children, Scott, Erin, Kerry and his grandchildren Kylie, Caden and Logan. Dr. Ghormley's wish is that memorial donations be made to the Rex Ghormley Fund of the American Optometric Foundation. Donations can be mailed to the Foundation or made online.

The AOF is working with Rex's family to establish an annual scholarship, fellowship, or award in his honor. As of January 2010, over $20,000 has been donated or pledged.

Please consider using the AOF pledge form to make an ongoing contribution to the Rex Ghormley Fund.