REMEMBERING Mick Dragoo
The Passing Of Mick Dragoo
APRIL 8, 2015
On March 17, 2015, after working his normal 12 hour stint at his winery, Mick Dragoo went home, where he unexpectedly collapsed and died. He was a brilliant man, and a phenomenal clinician, teacher, thinker, innovator, and entrepreneur, who never seemed to be tired. Mick was a special man who touched, influenced and improved the lives of people all over the world. Mick’s accomplishments were amazing and it does not seem possible that one human could have done all that he did in his 71 years of life.
Mick was born into very humble circumstances in Reynolds, Nebraska. He went to the University of Nebraska for his undergraduate and dental school education. He was awarded a Regent scholarship to attend dental school, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and OKU in 1968. While in dental school, one of Mick’s legendary accomplishments was that he treated a patient whom he gave endodontic treatment on all of his teeth and a full mouth reconstruction.
After an one year oral surgery internship and two years in the Navy, Mick went to the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle, where he received his Master of Science in Dentistry and his Certificate in Periodontics. A few months after leaving the University of Washington, he presented, on the main stage of the annual meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology – AAP, the results of the research that he did in graduate school.
His body of work as a periodontist includes the publication of three books and 21 articles. He was a visiting lecturer at the University of Southern California, the University of California, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Washington; where he was appointed as a Saul Schluger Visiting Professor in the Graduate Periodontics Department. He lectured extensively at the AAP, the Academy of General Dentistry – AGD, dental societies, post-graduate programs, study clubs, universities, and hospitals in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. Over several years, through his lectures and study clubs, which included demonstrations and hands-on segments, Mick taught a large number of dentists in Germany the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. He was the founder and president of International Institute for Dental Seminars since 1976. He retired from his periodontal practice in Reno at the age of 40; however, he continued doing limited private practice, clinical research, and teaching.
Mick’s business, and social outreach avocations at different times since 1983 included: founder and president of Group Financial Investors Venture Capital Company, outside director on Board of Directors of Cericor, Cerisyn, and Clyde Digital Computer Corporation, chairman of the board for Centennial and Marathon Gold Corporation, chairman of the board and president of American Consolidated Gold Corporation, founder, president and chairman of the board of Project Graduation in Northern California (drug and alcohol free high school graduation night), and founder, chairman and ceo of Advanced Health Systems, which developed computer software for comprehensive body enhancement via fitness, nutrition, and stress management.
Another of Mick’s avocations is hot air ballooning. He was the founder and executive vice-president of Sierra Sunrise Balloon Company, a commercial hot air balloon pilot, and a commercial thermal airship pilot. He designed and assisted in engineering the world’s largest United States made hot air special shape balloon and Mick was the first hot air balloon pilot to fly in Moscow and Russia.
Since 1980, Mick and Mary Dragoo have owned and operated family wineries.
In the wonderful gesture of giving back to the profession he loved, Mick and Mary Dragoo recently donated $5,000,000.00 to the UCLA Dental School to establish the UCLA Mick and Mary Dragoo Periodontal and Implant Clinical Research and Patient Care Center. This generous gift from the Dragoos is the largest single donation from an individual or couple that the dental school has ever received.
In spite of all of the above, Mick’s family was the center of his life. He could not have accomplished all that he did without the support of his wife and soul mate, Mary, who is adored and admired by all who know her. Their two sons and their families brought great joy and pride to Mick and Mary. Mick is survived by his sons Jason, with his wife Kristin and their two sons, Jake and Will and Justin and his wife Alison and their sons Austin and Hayden.
It does not seem possible that Mick is no longer with us; however, I know that heaven will be changed now that Mick is there.
Written with love and admiration,
Bob Lamb