Dr. Richard Loeb

Class of 1951 Dr. Loeb attended the seminary at St. Ambrose University for two years, before deciding to enter the U.S. Air Force. He became a navigator with the 63rd Air Rescue Squadron, serving his country from 1954-1957. In 1954 he was involved in a top secret, dangerous mission to rescue strategic air command members in North Korea. He was decorated for the successful operation. After his military service, he graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School. He later worked in internal medicine at Kansas City General Hospital, and while there was awarded Intern of the Year, Outstanding Resident, and served as president of the house staff. In 1968 he left to join a large clinic in Springfield, Missouri, practicing internal medicine for 34 years. While there, Dr. Loeb became part of the team that established Missouri’s first cardiac intensive care unit, and part of the first team in southwest Missouri to perform a total hip replacement, and the first renal hemodialysis. He served his communities on numerous boards, helped to raise over $1 million to create an education fund for financially challenged students, and at the request of Bishop Bernard Law, helped to establish the Kitchen Clinic in 1985, which is still in operation today to provide medical services to the area’s underserved population. Dr. Loeb led a vaccination program for the Swine Flu that is estimated to have saved 40,000 lives and for the effort received recognition in the Wall Street Journal.