Leavell retires from Lampasas Dental Center

Dr. Neal Leavell retired from Lampasas Dental Center on Dec. 15 after 38 years in dental practice. He said he is happy to welcome Dr. Justin Felkner to the office.

Starting Jan. 4, Justin Felkner will join his brother Dr. Jordan Felkner — who has been at Lampasas Dental Center five years — as a partner in the practice.

Leavell grew up in Waco and graduated from Baylor University and the Baylor College of Dentistry. He completed a residency in general dentistry at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in San Antonio.

Leavell came to Lampasas in 1982. He and Dr. Sandy Bailey worked together as dental partners for 33 years, until Bailey retired.

Dentistry appealed to Leavell as a career that combines science and patient care.

“I enjoy interacting with the public, with a wide variety of people of all ages and backgrounds,” he said.

Leavell said he has enjoyed treating multiple generations of Lampasas families, including the children of patients he treated when they were children.

Leavell also chose to practice dentistry so he could live and work in a small town. As a small-town dentist, he has treated an array of dental conditions, as specialists are not readily available locally.

He said he read dental journals dedicatedly throughout his career to keep abreast of industry developments and to remain knowledgeable about various aspects of dentistry.

Jordan Felkner said Leavell has “done a phenomenal job of keeping up to date.”

Leavell said precision is key but often elusive in dentistry.

“It’s a technically difficult day,” he said. “Our job is exacting, with less than totally predictable results.”

Leavell said he chose to bring Jordan Felkner and Justin Felkner to Lampasas Dental Center because they are committed to staying informed on the latest in patient care.

“I wanted someone academic that would keep up with the technology,” the newly retired dentist said. “That’s something that appealed to me about Jordan and Justin.”

Leavell said he is grateful for the employees at Lampasas Dental Center, too.

“I appreciate the staff members, many of whom have worked here for decades,” he said. “They have really helped the patients and the practice.”

He gave special thanks to Dental Assistant Kay Gill — who has worked at the practice for 36 years — Office Manager Sheila Burton, Dental Assistant Noalle Brown and Hygiene Coordinator Torie Lesley. Each has worked at the practice at least 10 years, he said.

He also is thankful for the “wonderful new members” of the practice, Leavell said.

Leavell has been involved in Lampasas’ economic-development endeavors since the 1980s and served as chairman of the Economic Development Corporation board.

He also has been a member of the Spring Ho Committee, the Cooper Spring Nature Park board, the Kiwanis Club, Lampasas Association for the Arts and the Rollins Brook Hospital Board of Directors.

Leavell said he enjoys tending his small herd of cattle — which he has kept for about 25 years on land near Pearl — saltwater fishing on the coast and bird hunting.

He looks forward to spending time in retirement with his wife, Cherie, who taught English at Lampasas High School until she retired, and hopes to travel. He said he would like to see the Pacific Northwest, the Grand Canyon and Europe.

Leavell and his wife have three daughters – who live in Rio Grande City, Texas; Athens, Georgia; and Denver — and two grandchildren.

Justin Felkner said he looks forward to beginning where Leavell left off.

“I’m excited to take care of the community and carry on Neal’s legacy,” he said. “The office has a great legacy.”

Justin Felkner studied business management at Brigham Young University and graduated from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

He completed a residency in general dentistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and practiced in Mission for two and a half years.

Felkner said he chose to pursue dentistry as a senior in high school.

“I liked working with my hands and with people, and it seemed like a good balance,” he said.

He and his wife, Kasidy, have two boys and a baby girl. Their older son just started kindergarten.

Felkner said he is eager to be part of the Lampasas community and looks forward to raising his children here.

The Felkner brothers, originally from Dripping Springs, said they are thrilled to work together to serve Lampasas.

“There will be no major changes,” Jordan Felkner said. “We will continue to invest in technology and put patients as our top priority.”