Reggie Gold

Reginald R. "Reggie" Gold, born in London, became one of the most influential voices of vitalistic, straight-oriented chiropractic. He graduated with distinction from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1957 and then remained at the college to devote himself to the philosophy of chiropractic; from this work came his treatise The Triune of Life, which earned him a Doctor of Chiropractic Humanities degree and serves as a reference text in philosophy teaching to this day. In parallel he built a practice in Spring Valley, New York, that was regarded internationally as a model.

Gold is considered a pioneer of "objective straight chiropractic" — the position that the chiropractor's sole task is the correction of the vertebral subluxation, independent of symptoms or disease, in order to enable the body to function as well as possible. This clear, deliberately non-therapeutic view made him a formative and at the same time contentious figure. His real gift, however, was communication: Gold was regarded by many as the profession's most gifted speaker, able to render the philosophy of chiropractic in clear images for lay and professional audiences alike. His lectures and recordings inspired countless people over decades to take up the profession.

Beyond practice, Gold shaped education: he helped build the Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, serving as its first academic dean and lecturer in philosophy, and later helped found the ADIO Institute of Straight Chiropractic, which he led as president and from which the later Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic emerged. He was also involved in founding the International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations. Together with his wife Irene, also a chiropractor, he became a significant benefactor of Sherman College. He died in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, in 2012.