Dr. Kerr, our school namesake, lead an exemplary life of service to his community. His "community" was wherever he found himself either by design or happenstance. He traveled the world and rejoiced in his return home. He saw the children of other parts of the world but remained especially loyal to the children in his beloved Kerr Elementary School.

Dr. Kerr and his wife, Betty, arrived in Mesa in 1954 and opened the first pediatric office in the East Valley. He was a founding member of the MARC Center, Mesa Foundation for Excellence, East Valley Behavioral Health Association and Prehab. Some other interesting facts about Dr. Kerr are:

• He became an Eagle Scout at the age of 15 years.
• He was a Pediatrician for over 50 years until his retirement in 2003.
• He served on the Mesa School Board, the Governor's Educational Council and the Mesa Child Crisis Center Board.
• He was a co-founder of Sunshine Acres group home for orphaned and abandoned children and had a medical facility named in his honor.
• In his spare time he liked to golf, visit the mountains and even boogie board in the ocean.
• In his retirement, he and his wife, Betty, enjoyed world travel and spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
• A great joy to him was when he visited "his" kids at Kerr Elementary School.

Dr. Kerr was well-loved by the students, parents and staff members of our school. His visits will be greatly missed, but his dedication to serving others will be remembered and encouraged. All of us who have been touched by him are proud to have had the opportunity to bring honor to this exceptional man's name and to Kerr School.