Henry M. Thornton ’37

HEAVY THORNTON died Apr. 18, 1992, of heart trouble and after a long bout with emphysema, leaving his wife of 56 years, Ginny (daughter of George Whiteley '10); five children, including Henry Jr. '58; 13 grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.

At St. George's he was captain of football and baseball, was on the basketball team, was a prefect, and was a member of the civics club. At Princeton he was a member of Ivy, but he left after sophomore year to marry Ginny, a cousin of Joe Whiteley. He started off as supervisor of investigations for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Revenue, but in 1938 he joined Dentist's Supply Company of York, Penn., the world's largest manufacturer of artificial teeth, with subdivisions in seven countries, and a pioneer in the development of dental health insurance, He became president in 1955.

When not attending board of director meetings of the Dentists' Supply Co. of N.Y., York County Visiting Nurse Assn., Martin Memorial Library, Yorktowne Hotel, York Hospital, York Country Day School (of which he was a founder), American Dental Assn., York Manufacturer's Assn., First National Bank of York, York Airport Authority, The Fund for Dental Education, and the Commonwealth National Bank, Heavy busied himself on his 1,500-acre farm, with 150 Holsteins, grain, and fruit. One dental association established a fellowship in his honor in 1975 and in 1982 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Dental Assn. as a pioneer in the establishment of funding dental education in Canada. He received many honorary degrees. By our 50th reunion he listed his occupation as chairman emeritus, Dentist Supply International, York, Penn.

The Class sends sincerest sympathies to Ginny and the numerous progeny.

The Class of 1937