Dr. C. David Hay, winner of KDR’s Ordo Honoris award, is the 2008 recipient
of the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Indiana University
School of Dentistry.
Dr. Hay also is an internationally recognized poet. He would not choose
words like “prestigious” or “distinguished.” Such words sound nice but are
really hard to rhyme.
At the Dental School banquet in Indianapolis where Dr. Hay received the
Distinguished Alumnus Award, recitation of his record of service and honors
was as impressive as it was lengthy.
He retired from dentistry after 42 years of general practice in Rosedale. He
twice received the Western Indiana Dental (WDA) of the Year Award. He was
Western Indiana Dental Assn. President; was Deputy Regent and is concluding
a four-year term as Regent to the International College of Dentists (ICD)
representing Indiana and Ohio; he represented six southwestern Indiana
counties for 10 years on the Board of Trustees of the Indiana Dental
Association (IDA); served for 20 years as an IDA representative to the
Indiana House of Representatives; assisted the Parke County Board of Health
for 26 years; edited the Indiana Dental Association Journal (his Millennium
publication received a National Commendation) and he edited the
International College of Dentists Newsletter as well as the group’s “Key”
magazine.
Dr. Hay is a 1961 graduate of the IU School of Dentistry. Few friends
realized that his hobby was writing poetry. However, his wife, Joy,
recognized his talent and encouraged him to seek publication. After his
poetry was published and the awards rolled in, friends wondered how he found
time to write poetry with everything else he was doing.
His first book of poems was published in the early ’90s. Three additional
books followed. His poems continue to be selected for recitation over the
BBC in Great Britain. He was the first American poet published in the
Russian independent newspaper, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta.” Dr. Hay received
Gold, Silver and Bronze awards from the International Society for the
Advancement of Poetry and was a Pushcart Prize finalist.
Of course, Kappa Delta Rho’s national award, the Ordo Honoris, recognized
Dr. Hay’s dental career and service as well as his poetry. He has maintained
a close relationship with KDR’s Nu Chapter at Indiana University since
graduation.
