BURL PETTIBON

1932 - 2018

Burl Rex Pettibon DC, FABCS, FRCCM, PhD (Hon) Passed away at home in Chehalis, WA on December 22, 2017. Burl was born on the family homestead in Deerfield, MO on November 13, 1932, and graduated from Nevada High School on May 13, 1950. After high school, Burl enlisted in the Air Force and served his country during the Korean War. He was part of a specialized crew of 26 that flew spy missions over cities, looking for and taking pictures of threats to the US. After a life altering football injury in his teens, and subsequent treatments by a friend's father, who happened to be a Chiropractor, Burl honed his interest and made it his life's ambition to pursue a career as a Chiropractor. After 4 years in the Air Force, Burl enrolled at Cleveland College of Chiropractic and received his degree in 1956. He married his first wife, Audrey, and moved to Washington State, opening a clinic in Tacoma where he had a very successful practice for many years. Burl's enthusiasm for his profession and desire to help people led to mentorship of others to learn and improve their own methods of practice. Burl later married Sharon, who shared his passion, and they spent decades traveling, teaching and growing their business together. They developed the Pettibon System, which now provides his specialized equipment to Doctors worldwide. Dr. Pettibon and others created the Pettibon Biomechanics Institute, an organization dedicated to teaching spinal biomechanics. Burl pioneered new ways of thinking about and treating the human spine. He taught worldwide, authored numerous books, and held many patents for equipment. He also created a teaching institute and manufacturing and distributing company. Burl was considered the father of Modern Spinal Bio-Mechanics, and helped countless people throughout his long and illustrious career. He will be remembered throughout the Chiropractic community as a pioneer clinician, inventor, developer, researcher, author, and teacher. He will be remembered by those who knew him as a brilliant thinker, one who constantly challenged the status quo, and one who loved a good fight. He was a member of Fircrest Country Club for years and was an avid golfer. He was also generous, always willing to help those in need. Burl loved his family, was a great sport, and was always game for new experiences. He is survived by his wife Sharon; children, Jon (Helene), Rex (Nancy), Sam (Chris), Holly (John); stepchildren, Todd (Sue) and Chad; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. A celebration of Burl's life will be held at 1:00 pm on February 3rd, at the Veteran's Memorial Museum in Chehalis, WA. All who knew him are welcome to join us as we celebrate his amazing life of service.