Serving Up Smiles

by Emily Gibson

Dr. Richard Berryman’s dentistry practice is the last surviving of its kind in Hardeman County as he has been in business for nearly 55 years now.

Berryman is the son of former Hardeman Countians Hazel and Earl Berryman and has likewise lived and worked in Hardeman County his whole life.

Upon graduating from Bolivar Central High School in the class of 1963 as Valedictorian, Berryman went on to pursue his dentistry degree at UT Martin, finishing after only two years, after which he went on to the University of Tennessee Health Science College of Medicine to acquire his Doctorate in dental surgery.

“Back then Vietnam was going on, and they were trying to get as many dentists graduated as they could, so if your grades were good in college, you could apply to dental school after two years instead of four,” said Berryman. “I’ve got a doctor's degree, but I don’t have a Bachelor’s or anything like that.”

Berryman finished his doctorate in three years by attending school year-round, after which he came back to Bolivar where he worked under another dentist in Bolivar at the time as an associate.

“He taught me some things you didn’t learn in dental school such as the business end of running a dental practice which I got to learn about,” said Berryman.

Berryman opened his own practice at 301 W Market St, Bolivar, after physician Dr. B.F. McAnulty retired, and the left side of the building became available for rent. The other side of the building was an optometrist practice that later became available for Berryman to buy in the 1980s.

Since working there, Berryman said he has witnessed many changes and advances within his field such as in equipment and sanitary procedures.

“Nobody wore gloves, masks, or anything,” said Berryman. “You called yourself a wet-fingered dentist, and that didn’t change until 1995.”

Apart from dentistry, Berryman served on the school board for two terms in the 80s, and taught Sunday school for 40 years at the First Baptist Church, instructing both the children and later the senior citizens.

One of Berryman’s hobbies is canoeing, or as he calls it, drifting down the Hatchie River, something he has done for most of his life, and not many years ago, he and his wife won a canoeing race put on by the annual Forest Festival.

Berryman said he enjoys what he does, and he could not do it without his wife of nearly 56 years who has not only stuck with him these many years but also worked alongside him for several of them now as the office manager.

“I tell everybody I just work here,” said Berryman. “She’s the one who has the hard job.”

September 28 will mark 55 years of business for Berryman, and he said he feels blessed that God has let him practice as long as he has as well as allowed him to see all of the changes that have been made not just in dentistry but also in Bolivar.

Berryman’s first patient 54 years ago, Danny Cheshier, still goes to Berryman for dental work and said he’s never wanted to go to anyone else.

“Richard Berryman is just a good dentist, a good person and he’s community-minded,” said Cheshier. “He’s the best.”

Berryman said he has no plans to retire and hopes to continue to serve Hardeman County for as long as he is able.

“As long as my health holds out, I’ll remain in practice,” concluded Berryman.