By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A Yukon optometrist who has helped many thousands of people see better is being honored after 41 years of service to the community.
A Yukon High School graduate, Dr. David C. Brewer has retired after practicing optometry in his hometown from 1979 to 2020.
“Dr. David Brewer Day” was proclaimed Sept. 3, 2021, in the City of Yukon. The document presented by the Yukon City Council cites Brewer’s “outstanding contributions to the health” of Yukon and Canadian County residents.
The proclamation states: “In his long and distinguished professional career, he has been very dedicated and has given generously of his time to benefit the residents of Yukon and the surrounding area.”
In 1979, Dr. Brewer built his optometry office on the northeast corner of Cornwell and Vandament. At that time, Vandament and Cornwell were one lane roads and Vandament was the south edge of town.
Fresh off completing optometry school at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn., Dr. Brewer opened his Yukon practice at age 25 … during the Jimmy Carter administration!
More than four decades and tens of thousands of satisfied patients later, this Yukon optometric legend decided it was time to hang up his phoropter, retinoscope and auto-refractor.
LOTS OF HONORS
Dr. Brewer was named “Oklahoma Optometrist of the Year” in 2007 and was president of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians for 2011-12 – being honored as a “Pioneer in Optometry” in 2012.
He was recognized for “championing for optometry and health standards to Oklahoma lawmakers on numerous occasions,” according to the proclamation signed by Yukon Mayor Shelli Selby.
Dr. Brewer founded Yukon Public Schools’ vision screening program. He provided charity eye exams and glasses for YPS students and the Yukon Lions Club.
The longtime Yukon optometrist also served in the Yukon Rotary Club and Yukon Chamber of Commerce.
The lifelong Yukon resident has been enjoying retirement with wife Kathy. They’ve lived in the same home in Yukon for 35 years.
Their children are son Matt of Denver, Colo. and daughter Lauren (and her husband P.J. Robinson) of Dallas, Texas.
