August 2003

Profession mourns loss of Fred Barge, D.C., Ph.C.

The chiropractic profession lost one of its most respected and influential leaders last month when Fred H. Barge, D.C., Ph.C., died of a heart attack on July 2, at his home in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was 70.

A graduate of Palmer College, Barge received more than 60 awards for his contributions to the profession. As a life‑time member of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA), he served as its ninth president and spearheaded the successful opposition to a proposed merger with the American Chiropractic Association. He was recently re‑elected as ICA vice president. He chaired two successful ICA international symposiums and headed the ICA's Philosophy Council. He also served on the first World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) Board of Governors.

A Palmer College trustee from 1973-82, Barge was a founding member of the Palmer College of Chiropractic-West Board of Trustees. Chairman of the Palmer Chiropractic University System (PCUS) Board of Trustees Vickie Palmer said, "We have lost a great friend and a legendary presence at Palmer. My father, Dr. David Palmer, valued his friendship with Dr. Barge very much. I am glad we have the wonderful displays of artifacts and epigrams he recently helped assemble on the three Palmer campuses as a reminder of his love for Palmer College and Palmer history. His energy and great love for Palmer were boundless. No doubt he is now enjoying conversations with the other great chiropractic philosophers who preceded him in heaven."

At the request of the PCUS Board of Trustees and Chancellor Guy F. Riekeman, D.C., the Palmer flag on campus was flown at half‑mast. The Board also sent a floral tribute in memory of Dr. Barge to be displayed in the Palmer Hall of Philosophers in West Hall.

Barge was born on Jan. 13, 1933 and, in 1957, married Audrey Thompson. He graduated from Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1954 and did postgraduate work at Logan Chiropractic College. He interned with Drs. B.J. Palmer, Clarence Gonstead and Henry Barge before establishing a chiropractic practice in La Crosse in 1957.

In 1962, he was hired as a continuing education faculty member at Palmer and became a visiting professor in the Division of Chiropractic Sciences in 1989. In 1998, he joined the philosophy department and became a special advisor to the president's office. He also had visiting faculty status at New York Chiropractic College, Life Chiropractic College West, Logan Chiropractic College and Life University. Additionally, Barge was a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for 15 years.

Dr. Riekeman said, "Chiropractic has lost a warrior and Palmer has lost a prince. Fred wrote books ranging from philosophy to technique, but he will be best remembered for his Shakespearean voice, which always carried a clear and consistent message of unadulterated, principled Chiropractic. He was Palmer Proud and purple to the core of his soul. I don't think he was ever more fulfilled than in the last five years as he moved through Palmer, brightening its history. Every student will long remember each class beginning with, 'Good morning, fledgling chiropractors.' And, so, to my good friend, for now... Enuf said."

Barge's outspoken support of the WCA while serving as a member of its Board of Directors helped bring the organization into the forefront of the profession's consciousness. Earlier this year, he resigned from the Board, citing his hectic schedule.

"Dr. Barge's support of the World Chiropractic Alliance was instrumental in our successful reorganization," WCA President Terry A. Rondberg stated at the time of his resignation. "We will always be honored and grateful for that support. As one of our founding board members, he will always hold a special place in our history and our hearts."

A prolific author of chiropractic and patient‑education material as well as numerous books, Barge's texts are required curricular texts in many chiropractic colleges. He was also one of the most popular speakers on the chiropractic lecture circuit, giving presentations on chiropractic philosophy and subluxation theory at symposia and seminars all across the United States.

Barge's papers were published by the ICA Review and other chiropractic organizations and widely distributed at many chiropractic colleges. His nine books include: "Wryneck" (1998), "Giant vs. Pygmy + Thots" (1994), "Scoliosis" (1981), "Torticollis" (1979) and "Tortipelvis" (1976). He also wrote numerous articles for -- and had a regular "Philosophy" column in -- The Chiropractic Journal.

His inventions included the Barge Tortipelvis Bench, a line of cervical technique chairs, a cervical adjustment pillow and vertical film filing cabinets. He held patents on two devices, a reclining radiographic table and a full‑spine adjusting apparatus.

Named ICA "Chiropractor of the Year" in 1991, Barge counted among his many other honors awards for "Lifetime Achievement" from the WCA, "Lifetime Service" from the ICA, "Dedicated Service" from the Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association, and "Special Recognition" from the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association. He was also recipient of a Fellowship in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic (1986) and the Daniel David Palmer Chiropractic Scientific Award (1977).

In 1986, Barge was the PCCIAA "Alumnus of the Year." The Palmer student body voted him "Faculty of the Year" in 2000, and in March, the PCCIAA gave him its 2003 "Faculty Achievement Award."

However, no listing of his professional achievements can truly do him justice, since his real contributions to chiropractic went far beyond the positions he held or the books he wrote. He inspired generations of chiropractors to dedicate themselves to the principles of subluxation‑based chiropractic, and to never sacrifice the unique quality of chiropractic.

Barge's survivors include his wife and two daughters, Sally Barge Rusak, C.T., and Patricia Barge Berkley, D.C., as well as 10 grandchildren. Another daughter, Amy Barge, preceded him in death.

A memorial fund has been established by Barge's family through the Palmer Development Office in Davenport. Memorials may also be made to the ICA. Any monies donated to the ICA in Barge's memory will be used to fund a scholarship in his name.

Messages began pouring in from around the world on the Internet at the first news of Barge's death. Although filled with sadness and grief, they uniformly celebrated his large life and considerable legacy.

In special recognition of all he had meant to World Chiropractic Alliance leaders, members and friends, the WCA set up a "tribute" page on its website (www.worldchiropracticalliance.org) where remembrances of and "thots" about Barge were posted.