Our Story
Dr. Clarence Stanford, the founder of Stanford Dental Clinic, was an amazing person, husband, family man, and dentist who loved and contributed so much to Ripley, MS and Tippah County. He was a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, where he was president of his senior class. After graduation, he served two years with the Army Dental Corps. He had practiced dentistry in Ripley since 1963 and served on numerous committees of the District 1 Dental Association and was president in 1995-96. He was an active member of the Ripley Tiger Booster Club for more than 30 years and served as announcer at most of the home games. For 20 years he sponsored the Junior Golf Tournament at Pine Hill Country Club in Ripley for young golfers from Memphis and North Mississippi. He was a great golfer and just a joy to be around and fellowship with. In 1968, he was chosen to serve as chairman for the Building Committee for the Ripley Public Library. He served as a trustee of Blue Mountain College for six years and also served on short-term mission trips to Belize and Honduras. Dr. Clarence was a member of the Ripley Rotary Club and in 1997, he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was elected as trustee of Baptist Memorial Health Care System in 1974 and served as chairman of that board in 1986. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences and a member of its Executive Committee. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Baptist Health Care Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Booneville. Dr. Clarence Stanford and his family have always had a heart for and great influence in Tippah County.
Dr. Clarence Stanford started Stanford Dental Clinic in 1963. In 1989, his son, Dr. John Stanford, joined the clinic and followed in his dad's footsteps. The clinic has now made its third expansion with the addition of Drs. Megan Stanford and Stephen Stanford in 2019. Dr. Megan graduated from Southern College of Optometry in 2016 and Dr. Stephen graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 2015. With the addition of optometric services the clinic is now named Stanford Family Dental and Vision. Stanford Family Dental and Vision offers comprehensive dental exams, treatment and cleanings alongside the new services for eye exams, glasses and contacts.