Each year, in mid-January, the Baylor College of Dentistry's Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery hosts this tuition-free continuing education experience which was established to honor the memory of Dr. P. Earle Williams (1905-1997). Selected speakers in the specialty are known and respected for their clinical knowledge and experience, who have some past connections with BCD, and who are known to have a sense of humor. These criteria were in keeping with the family of Dr. Williams, who was considered the "Dean" of North Texas oral surgery. Past speakers have included:

• 1999: Dr. Robert Walker, Dallas, Texas
• 2000: Dr. Myron Tucker, Charlotte, North Carolina
• 2001: Dr. David Frost, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• 2002: Dr. Stephen Milam, San Antonio, Texas
• 2003: Dr. James Holton, Tyler, Texas
• 2004: Dr. B.D. Tiner, San Antonio, Texas
• 2005: Dr. Roger Alexander, Dallas, Texas
• 2006: Dr. Jerry Jones, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• 2007: Drs. John Zuniga and Phillip Williams, Dallas, Texas
• 2008: Dr. Douglas Sinn, Dallas, Texas
• 2009: Dr. Scotty Bolding, Fayetteville, Arkansas
• 2010: Dr. Jay P. Malmquist, Portland, Oregon

Dr. P. Earle Williams was a 1926 graduate of BCD and was the first Board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon to establish a practice in Dallas. He set up practice in 1946, following his service in the United States Army. He served in a large number of leadership positions during his career, including offices in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (twice), American College of Dentists and in local and state component societies of the American Dental Association. He also served on the faculties of two major teaching institutions in Dallas. He enjoyed a national reputation as a medical pioneer, teacher, public speaker, humorist, amateur magician, and dedicated leader. His favorite saying was "laughter is the shortest distance between two people" and that has become the adopted guiding light of the Lectureship. The symposium's coordinator is Dr. David Grogan, chairman of the department.

The Thirteenth Symposium will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2011 in the Beasley Auditorium, Truett Hospital in Baylor University Medical Center-Dallas. For information or to be placed on the official mailing list, contact Darlene Amos at 214-828-8101 and ask to be added to the mailing list, or send a request to damos@bcd.tamhsc.edu.