Thomas B. Welch, MD, DDS: journalist, innovator and grape juice king

Dr. Thomas B. ("T.B.") Welch was not an ordinary man. An inventive, creative and deeply religious individual, he intermittently practiced three professions--the ministry, medicine and dentistry. In his role as a minister, he developed a pasteurized, unfermented grape juice to be used during the communion service. He believed that he was truly serving God by enabling parishioners to partake a non-alcoholic "fruit of the vine." At that time, wine (the alcohol-containing "cup of devils") was traditionally used. Although T.B.'s efforts were in vain, those of his son, Charles ("C.E.") Welch were far more successful. C.E. had greater entrepreneurial talents than his father. By the time Charles died in 1926, he had made Welch's Grape Juice a familiar household product. As a distinguished New Jersey dentist. Dr. Tom made many contributions to his profession. He greatly improved the quality of dental amalgam and cement, and his dental products were so successful commercially, that he quit the practice of dentistry sooner than anticipated. Additionally, he created, edited and wrote Dental Items of Interest, a professional journal with the second largest circulation in the country. Later, he edited several other dental journals. Of his seven children, three sons and one daughter followed him into the dental profession. T.B. was also a gifted poet. Possessing a keen interest in the English language, he attempted to simplify spelling by using phonetics. However, this endeavor failed.