Earl Wiley Renfroe (January 9, 1907 – November 14, 2000) was a history-maker in the field of orthodontics and in breaking down the barriers of racism.
Dr.
Renfroe taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry from 1933 through the 1980s.
For many years, he was acknowledged as one of the best hands-on clinical orthodontics instructors in the world.
With fellow faculty member Dr.
Thomas K.
Barber of the College's Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr.
Renfroe in 1957 wrote a seminal article on the concepts of preventive and interceptive orthodontics.
Dr.
Renfroe also is considered one of the "fathers of orthodontics" in Brazil.