Dynamic, charismatic, spell-binding … these are all adjectives applied to the second president of the Logan Basic College of Chiropractic, Vinton Francis Logan, DC. As he spread the “gospel” about his father’s Universal Basic Technique, he developed a chiropractic college that had some of the highest standards for its day and produced graduates who have long since assumed important roles throughout organized chiropractic.

The son of school founder Hugh B. Logan, DC, Vinton was born July 1, 1905. He earned his doctorate from the Universal Chiropractic College in Pittsburgh in September 1927.

Logan established his first practice with his father in Los Angeles, where he came into contact with several future leaders of the profession.

Dr. H.B. Logan began teaching his new clinical methods, termed “Universal Basic Technique” (BT), in 1931 and Vinton and his wife Peggy, soon joined H.B. on the road teaching BT around the nation. Their innumerable tours of the country on behalf of BT brought the young doctor wide exposure within the profession.

CO-FOUNDER OF LOGAN COLLEGE

Logan assisted his father in establishing the non-profit Logan College in St. Louis in 1935. He succeeded to the presidency upon H.B.’s death in 1944.

Logan developed the school’s curriculum to be longer than customary for its day (four years of nine months each) and committed the school to provide competent basic science instruction.

Although the Logan College was accredited briefly by the NCA in the early 1950s, personal friction between Dr. Logan and the NCA’s director of education, John J. Nugent, DC, brought this recognition to a close. Logan then allied his school with straight chiropractic colleges such as Carver, Cleveland and Palmer in the formation of a rival school organization, the North American Association of Chiropractic Schools & Colleges. It was anticipated that Logan would succeed B.J. as president of the ICA, but his premature death at age 56 prevented this.

During his 17-year administration of the Logan Basic College of Chiropractic (1944-1961) the facilities of the school were greatly expanded, and the finances of the institution much improved. Like his father, Logan emphasized professionalism to his students, in the form of proper dress and demeanor. But his fun-loving nature also meant that the chiropractic college experience was peppered with a great many social events. During his presidency, the Logan College nurtured a tradition of camaraderie and a “family spirit” among its alumni that persists to this day.

Dr. Vinton Logan was known to students for his gregarious nature and approachability. He was a forceful and engaging public speaker who could rally the troops to worthy chiropractic causes. He was always in demand as a speaker at state and national chiropractic conventions.