A legacy of healing: Celebrating 100 years of KCU alumnus Lester Donley, DO

Born into a family deeply rooted in osteopathic medicine, Lester Donley, DO (COM 1952), has spent a century embodying the principles of perseverance and community service. Kansas City University (KCU) is proud to honor his remarkable life and reflect on his extraordinary journey as a veteran, a physician and a dedicated advocate for osteopathic medicine.

Lester grew up in Kingman, Kansas, alongside his twin brother, Leonard. Their father, James Benjamin (JB) Donley, DO, was a graduate of A.T. Still University and a trailblazer for osteopathic medicine in Kansas, advocating for the profession during its formative years. Inspired by their father’s determination and firsthand exposure to osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), particularly during Lester’s childhood bout with pneumonia, the twins shared a dream of becoming doctors.

After high school, Lester and Leonard began their undergraduate studies at Kansas State University. However, their aspirations were soon interrupted when they were drafted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1943 during World War II.

The brothers were stationed at Schick General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, where they worked with wounded soldiers and honed their clinical skills. Leonard developed expertise in surgery, while Lester focused on physical therapy, helping rehabilitate injured servicemen. Despite the demands and hardships of their roles, they found moments of joy and camaraderie, even performing together in a USO band to boost morale.

Following their wartime service, the Donley twins enrolled at KCU (then known as Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery) to fulfill their dream of becoming osteopathic physicians. Lester thrived in the hands-on clinical training, drawing on the skills he gained during his time in the Medical Corps.

For Lester, life at KCU was much more than academic; it was an opportunity to build lasting friendships and a sense of community. He fondly recalls friendships with fellow students and the guidance of faculty and staff, especially Mrs. Grace Hall, whose sharp memory and devotion to students earned her legendary status on campus. The bonds he formed at KCU shaped his life and career in the decades that followed.

After completing his internship at Lakeside Hospital in Kansas City, young Dr. Donley returned to Kingman to join his father’s general practice. Together, they built Donley Osteopathic Health Clinic, which served as a cornerstone of health care in their community. His brother pursued a career as a general surgeon in nearby Wichita, Kansas.

Lester’s career was distinguished by his versatility as a general practitioner. Over the years, he served generations of families delivering more than 1,200 babies and treating everything from childhood illnesses and broken bones to chronic conditions. He often relied on OMT to relieve pain and provide holistic care for his patients.

Even as rural practices faced mounting challenges in the 1980s, including rising liability insurance costs that forced many to close, Lester’s dedication to his community never faltered. Though he retired long ago, his legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched and the many families who remember his compassionate care.

Dr. Donley had this advice to share with current medical students and practicing osteopathic physicians: “Always listen to what your patients and their family have to say in regard to their health before making a specific diagnosis.”

As we celebrate Dr. Donley’s 100th birthday, KCU honors his extraordinary contributions to medicine, his enduring impact on the osteopathic profession and his steadfast commitment to the health and well-being of his community. Well done, Dr. Donley. Well done!