02/02/2022
Dr Elton Preston Maddox Jr (Tony to his friends) graduated from University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1972. He was the first African American to complete the four year program after graduating with honors from Morgan State University in1978. A trail blazer at the UMSOD he helped the dental school enroll 23 African American students by January of 1973.
Dr Maddox became an instructor and faculty member at the dental school for numerous years before opening his dental practice in Salisbury Maryland. Dr. Maddox was involved in many community activities, through membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., N.A.A.C.P, M.I.S.T.E.R. (Men Inspiring Students to Enjoy Reading), to name a few.
He practiced dentistry until 2012 when he merged his practice with another dentist.
Unfortunately Dr Maddox passed away in 2015 at age 68.
As a graduate of University of Maryland Dental school (2010), I feel both sad and proud to learn about Dr Maddox.
University of Maryland School of dentistry is the FIRST dental school in America founded in the 1800s and it took until 1972 to graduate an African American student. But I am also very proud to learn about the legacy that Dr Maddox left and the fact he help recruit 23 other students and so the UMSOD went from 1 African American student to 23 students within a year of graduating dental school.
