RICHARD D. YENNIE

Richard D. Yennie, 85, was born 1928 and passed away October 11, 2013 at his lake home in Lee's Summit, Missouri. He was a lifelong resident in the Kansas City area. At the age of 9, Richard became fascinated with the mystery of the Orient and martial arts characterized in the Mr. Moto movies that ignited his imagination. In Richard's quest to learn, he read books on the Japanese language. . . in search of guidance, he found Kenkichi Furuichi, DDS who tutored him in speech, reading, calligraphy and Japanese culture. He also started taking judo lessons. In 1947, fluent in Japanese and proficient in judo, Richard entered the Presidio of Monterey, Military Intelligence Service Language School, Japanese Division for six months of military and political terminology. As his ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge in the early morning, his only thought was, "Let the adventure begin." First assignments were translator and interpreter, Far East Tribunal War Crimes Trials, Tokyo, for the British and U.S. prosecutors at Sugamo prison, and special agent for the U.S. Counter Intelligence Corps. He also received his black belt in Judo, was injured during training, and transferred to Yokosuka Naval Military Hospital. With no results medically, his judo instructor brought his acupuncturist (who smuggled acupuncture needles in the sleeve of his kimono-McArthur had banned acupuncture in Japan). To Yennie's amazement, he walked out of the hospital days later GOK. He asked and found the letters meant "God only Knows". He thought, "These Orientals know something about healing that apparently the Western world does not." This incident inspired him to change directions and aspire to be a natural healer, much like the acupuncturist who treated him. Returning home, finding no acupuncture schools in the U.S., the closest healing art was chiropractic. He enrolled in Cleveland Chiropractic College graduating in 1953. Dr. Yennie opened a judo school in the mid '50s teaching judo classes and building his student base. In the mid '60s, with five judo-karate schools and Korea's world judo champion teaching, he added Japan's top karate instructors. His reputation grew and an article in Black Belt Karate Magazine, entitled "The Kansas City Orientalist" was written. 1961, He went into private practice, a happy day. He had spent his first years in practice with Richard Wheatley, DC. 1960-2013, Dr. Yennie has several Hall-of-Fame, Chiropractor of the Year, Acupuncturist of the Year, Citations, and Honorary Lifetime Achievement Awards, many stating he was the first to achieve this status. He studied with the best and the brightest internationally and brought his teachers to his students for advanced studies. 1968, as President he founded the Acupuncture Society of America, Inc. He began formally teaching acupuncture classes in 1971 to all healing arts doctors who filled large ballrooms in local hotels as-well-as newsmen, magazine reporters, politicians, college presidents, photographers, and free-lance reporters. 1973, the first Osteopathic Acupuncture Association was founded by Yennie's students, James Rowland, DO, and William O. Fowler, DO. Dr. Yennie held the first veterinary acupuncture seminar in the U.S, in Kansas City. Every veterinary college sent representatives to observe and learn. In attendance was Marvin Cain, DVM, Cincinnati, his specialty was acupuncture treatment for race horses. Dr. Cain, formed the first Veterinary Acupuncture Association, in an interview years later he said. 'All of the human and animal thank you's for acupuncture being in America belong to Richard Yennie alone!' Dr. Yennie organized 200 doctors, including Dr. Cain, to participate in the Third World Acupuncture Congress, Seoul, Korea with acupuncture instruction in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. 1974, Dr. Yennie testified for the State of Nevada Legislators as an expert witness for enactment of the first acupuncture law in the U.S. As an expert witness, he was invited to speak for numerous state legislatures and for insurance companies re: acupuncture malpractice claims throughout his career. 1992-1995, Dr. Yennie was invited to Habana, Cuba by the Center for Neurological Restoration Hospital to instruct chiropractic and acupuncture principles and techniques. Cuban doctors from the Center visited Dr. Yennie, and also spoke to doctors at K.U. Medical Center regarding Cuba's successful treatment of Parkinson's disease. 1996-2012, Dr. Yennie guided leisure-learn tours to visit Master Wan Sujian, Four Star General and Qi Gong Master, Beijing. 2002, Dr. Yennie was elected First President of the ACA Council of Chiropractic Acupuncture granting Diplomate status to qualified practitioners. In 2010, he was given an Honorary Lifetime President Emeritus Certificate, #00001. 2005, Dr. Yennie held the first International Chiropractic-Acupunc- ture Symposium in Kansas City. Senator Charles Wheeler and Steve Hays, DC, were Keynote speakers. 2006 and 2007, Hosted Master Wan Qi Gong Symposiums in Kansas City. 2012, Dr. Yennie was invited to the 2nd Beijing International Symposium on Integrative Medicine, as Keynote Speaker, and symposium co-host, to study, visit with Master Wan, and tour China; 50 doctors and their families joined him. Dr. Yennie continued to treat patients in his clinic and teach postgraduate acupuncture courses (Foundation, Advanced, and Diplomate Status) until September, 2013. Richard cherished his family, was an avid reader and student, enjoyed his hobbies including judo and Karate, piano, blues, Qi Gong conversational Chinese and Japanese, Astronomy, and good food. Richard was a good friend, respected educator, leader, mentor and role model. His studies and passion for his chiropractic and acupuncture practice, his patients, and teaching acupuncture never ended. His diplomas, awards, testimonials, and citations filled his office rooms from floor to ceiling but he never quit learning. His life's work was a labor of love and continued to be filled with adventure and learning. Richard is survived by his wife Connie S. Yennie, Her children Eric Britain and Amber Britain of Independence, MO, and Her seven grandchildren and one great grandchild; daughter Francie Yennie- McDaniel and husband David of Independence, MO; Sister Barbara Hawley and husband Don of Arizona; Granddaughter Cammie Young of Buckner, MO and Grandson Charlie Yennie of Weatherby Lake, MO and His three great grandchildren; Business partner and close friend Patricia Khan of Kansas City; the Khan family who adopted him; His parents Frances and Charles Yennie of Kansas City; son Richard C. Yennie of Kansas City; younger brother Charles Yennie, Hartford, Connecticut who preceded him in death. 'Pioneers combine deep commitment to a vision with great strength of character. Some catalyze the breakthrough stages of a major change. Others organize, develop and nurture new approaches after the initial breakthrough has occurred. But the rarest of all are those who spearhead the initial breakthrough and then labor for decades so that the seeds of a great change can reach fruition. Richard Yennie is among this rarest breed of pioneer." Daniel Redwood, DC, Editor-in-Chief of Health Insights Today A Family Service will be at 1:00 PM, November 22, 2013 at the Mildred G. Cleveland Spiritual Center on campus at Cleveland Chiropractic College, 10850 Lowell Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210. A Celebration of Dr. Yennie's life will be at 3:00 PM, November 22, 2013, on campus at Cleveland Chiropractic College, 10850 Lowell Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210. In lieu of flowers, the Family suggests contributions be made to the Cleveland College Foundation Fund in memory of Dr. Richard D. Yennie. For additional information: ryenniedc@msn.com , 816-931-0287, Dr. Yennie's Facebook, or http://www.acupuncturesocietyofamerica.org/