This story was originally published in The Tower – Volume 1, 2025.
Longtime Logan College of Chiropractic supporter Ronald Nowman, DC (’58) delights in giving back to the school that he believes gave so much to him. His latest gift of $500,000 will rename Logan’s newly renovated Alumni & Friends House to the Dr. Ronald G. Nowman Alumni Center.
The motivation behind this gift is twofold. Dr. Nowman said that he would never have achieved a successful career as a chiropractor without his alma mater along with the late Vinton Logan, DC. The son of Hugh B. Logan, DC, Logan’s founder and first president, Dr. Vinton Logan served as the university’s second president from 1944 to 1961. Dr. Nowman wanted his most recent donation to reflect his appreciation for Dr. Vinton Logan, who was his teacher and role model. Therefore, a focal point of the Nowman Alumni Center will be side-by-side busts of Dr. Nowman and Dr. Vinton Logan along with their biographical information. Dr. Nowman hopes the exhibit will bring renewed attention to someone who he thinks played a vital role in shaping chiropractic and inspired him and countless others to build careers in the profession.
Dr. Nowman did not always know that he wanted to become a chiropractor. Growing up in the small industrial town of Bradley, Illinois, he did not want a job in a factory. With a scholarship to the University of Illinois, he had plans to become a teacher. His path changed when a local chiropractor sparked and encouraged his interest in chiropractic.
As a multi-sport athlete in high school, Dr. Nowman was a patient of K. I. Kline, DC. During Dr. Nowman’s senior year, Dr. Kline invited Dr. Vinton Logan to give a presentation on the burgeoning field of chiropractic at Dr. Nowman’s high school.
“In the early days of chiropractic’s development as a science, there were multiple schools of thought being developed by several outstanding pioneers who established their own schools, including Palmer, which was first, then Logan, Culver, Lincoln, National College of Chiropractic, and New York,” Dr. Nowman said. “The system of body mechanics originated by Dr. Hugh B. Logan and developed by his son Dr. Vinton Logan has stood the test of time as a complete system of body mechanics. When Dr. Vinton Logan lectured at my school, he demonstrated his adjustment technique for us and showed us X-rays from before and after.”
Dr. Nowman was intrigued by what he witnessed and impressed with Dr. Vinton Logan, who he described as a meticulously dressed, charismatic man with a commanding presence. With Dr. Kline’s support, Dr. Nowman changed course and enrolled in Logan’s Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program.
At the time, Logan was located on Florissant Road in Normandy, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Dr. Nowman credits Dr. Vinton Logan for having a vision for all that Logan could be.
Dr. Nowman benefited from learning from instructors who were practicing chiropractors, as Dr. Vinton Logan was. He believes that is one of the reasons Logan provides students with the most well-rounded chiropractic education in the world. He credits Dr. Vinton Logan for helping to build that foundation and placing philosophy at its core.
“In chiropractic, it’s not just skills,” Dr. Nowman said. “Dr. Vinton Logan impressed upon us that you must have the philosophy, or the ‘why,’ behind everything you do. He taught that you had to understand and know how to articulate why you’re a chiropractor and what you can do that other medical professionals can’t. You need the understanding of chiropractic philosophy to become a well-rounded chiropractor.”
Dr. Nowman continues to practice chiropractic in Bradley. He appreciates that although Dr. Vinton Logan passed away decades ago, his legacy will continue to live on at the Nowman Alumni Center.
Dr. Vinton Logan
Born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1905, Vinton Logan, DC shaped the field of chiropractic. As the son of Hugh B. Logan, DC—founder of Logan University and pioneer of the Logan Basic Technique—his commitment to advancing chiropractic education and the profession was evident from the start.
After graduating with his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Universal Chiropractic College in Pittsburgh in 1926, Dr. Vinton Logan practiced in Los Angeles for eight years and served as an instructor with the College of Chiropractic Physicians and Surgeons. In 1934 he joined his father to promote Logan Basic Technique and begin making plans for opening the Logan (Basic) College of Chiropractic.
By September 1935, Logan College opened with its first class of seven students. For nearly a decade, Dr. Vinton Logan served as dean of the college. When his father passed away in 1944, he assumed the presidency and led Logan into a golden era of growth and affluence. Under Dr. Vinton Logan’s leadership, the post-World War II years brought an influx of veterans, growing the student body from approximately 60 to more than 500.
Dr. Vinton Logan was known for being a charismatic and dynamic individual. Colleagues described him as a “master orator,” a “phenomenal motivator,” and a speaker whose words resonated deeply with audiences. His ability to recall names and active involvement in student life and functions earned him respect and loyalty. A 1944 Logan College yearbook stated: “Beloved by all Logan students, [Dr. Vinton Logan] serves as a leading source of inspiration on the campus.”
During the Dr. Vinton Logan era, the Memorial Clinic Building and other structures were constructed. At the time, this was considered the first large-scale chiropractic college expansion.
In addition to his administrative duties at the college, Dr. Vinton Logan was a member of several organizations, elected a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors and edited and published the Textbook of Logan Basic Methods in 1950, which is based on his father’s original writings.
Dr. Vinton Logan remained president of Logan until his death in 1966.