Gainesville —
After serving the people of Gainesville as a practicing dentist for 48 years, Dr. James Graham sold his practice to Dr. Matthew Bayne recently.
Graham has practiced out of the office across from the post office on Denton Street since 1972.
Graham, a native to Gainesville, has been a staple in the community over the years.
Before beginning his practice in Gainesville in 1963, Graham graduated from Gainesville High School before going on to attend Gainesville Junior College.
Gainesville Junior College later changed its name to North Central Texas College in 1994.
Graham then joined the Army. During his service, he spent time in Germany as a part of the dental corp during the Korean War.
According to Graham, after his return he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and continued in the UT system to attend dental school at the University of Texas dental branch at Houston.
After his graduation from dental school, he said he began his practice in Gainesville.
Since moving back to Gainesville, Graham has been extremely involved in the community.
He served on the city council for eight years, was a member of the Jaycees, the Optimist Club, the Masonic Lodge and has been highly involved with the Medal of Honor Host City program since the very beginning.
Since then, Graham has seen three generations of patients in his chair, with his wife, Karen working by his side.
According to Graham, the reason he is unable to continue his practice is medical.
“Five years ago, I had a heart attack,” he said. “During open heart surgery, I had arrhythmia and one of the side effects to the medication they used is pulmonary fibrosis (scaring of the lungs).”
Graham now carries an oxygen tank with him everywhere.
“It was a tough decision for him to decide to sell the practice even though his health is bad,” Karen said. “He loves his patients and he loves his profession.”
She went on to say that being with the patients after his health began to deteroriate helped him heal.
“Even after his health got bad, he would come up to the office and visit with the people and he would get better because he visited with the patients even though it was somebody else doing the work,” she said.
According to Bayne, he and Dr. Graham met a couple of months ago.
“Dr. Graham is a hero of mine,” Bayne said. “He has been taking care of people for a long time.
“I am very proud to be stepping into his shoes.”
“Dr. Bayne has been really gracious to allow me to use his office to finish up the cases that I have got going,” Dr. Graham said.
Bayne countered Graham’s statement by saying, “It’s really good to have you around.”
Officially, Bayne took over the practice Tuesday, but will begin seeing patients July 1.
“I am only changing a few minor things,” Bayne said. “Later, I will be updating some of the equipment to more high-tech equipment such as a digital x-ray machine. But the people are going to be the same.”
Bayne, who moved to Gainesville from Seattle, Wash., says “Gainesville is great. I love the sunshine. Dr. and Mrs. Graham are both really nice.”
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Related Photos
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Dr. James V. Graham (left) hands over the keys to the office of his dentist practice to new owner Dr. Matthew Bayne. Graham decided to sell his practice to Bayne after 48 years of serving the residents of Gainesville. Heather Pilkington
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A local icon retires
Dr. Graham sells dentist practice after 48 years
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