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A Tradition of Caring
From the earliest beginnings, Orthopedic Service Company and Alabama Artificial Limb Company have been intertwined. It was Alfred G. Latimer, Sr., (a.k.a. Al), who founded Orthopedic Service Company of Montgomery in 1950. His office was located downtown at 243 South Jackson Street across from Saint Margarets Hospital.
Al met Daniel J. Seals, (a.k.a. Joe), in 1950 when J.E. Hanger, a prosthetic company, opened a small office in the back of Orthopedic Service Company’s office. Joe had been a below knee amputee since he was eighteen months old due to being run over by a trolley car in 1918, and because of his interest in the prosthetic field, he got a job with J.E. Hanger when he was 20 years old. He worked for J.E. Hanger for 24 1/2 years.
In 1952, Joe outgrew the tiny, back-room office and moved to 1206 Madison Avenue. There, Joe continued working for Hanger until 1963 when Joe and Al finally decided to combine forces and form Alabama Artificial Limb Company. Barbara Latimer Crumpton (Al’s daughter) served as secretary and took over Al’s partnership when he died in 1982. Together Joe and Barbara ran the business until Joe died in 1990.
Glenn Crumpton, C.P.O., C.Ped, grandson to Al Latimer worked with Glenn Latimer and Al following his graduation from high school in 1981. During that time, he pursued an undergraduate degree from Troy State University in Montgomery. Upon completion, Glenn attended Northwestern University’s Prosthetic and Orthotic certificate programs and received certification in 1987 and prosthetics in 1989. Glenn began to work with Joe Seals in the late 1980s and upon Joe’s death, took over operation of Alabama Artificial Limb Company with his mother, Barbara.
There have been many remarkable advances in prosthetics throughout the 80s and 90s and into the new century. Alabama Artificial Limb Company, under the direction of Glenn and Barbara, has grown to meet the need of an ever-growing population of individuals with amputations. They have increased the patient care staff and administrative staff to keep pace with the latest developments. And, there is an ongoing effort on Glenn’s behalf to develop relationships with allied health professionals throughout central Alabama, and to keep them abreast of the latest innovations and advances in prosthetics. This includes annual educational seminars devoted to physical therapists, and presentations given to physical therapy students at Alabama State University. Efforts such as these blend well with the overall philosophy of Alabama Artificial Limb & Orthopedic Service, Inc. to offer a team-related approach to rehabilitation that combines our professional services with those of other allied health professionals under the supervision of a physician to provide the best possible outcomes.
Glenn is also very active on a state level where he currently serves as president-elect of the Alabama Prosthetic and Orthotic Association and Chairman of the Government Relations Committee. Due partly to Glenn’s involvement, a licensure act was recently passed in the Alabama state legislature that provides for higher qualifications and competency requirements for prosthetic and orthotic providers.
In 1991, Keith Uuro, B.O.C.P., began an apprenticeship with Glenn Crumpton. After over a decade of serving in a technical role with the company, Keith has recently begun a shift into patient care. In 2002, Keith successfully completed the requirements for certification as a prosthetist and became a B.O.C. certified practitioner.
Meanwhile, the evolution of Orthopedic Service Company of Montgomery was a natural one. Al Latimer, Sr.’s son, Glenn Latimer, came to work with his father after graduating from high school in the early 70s. After quite an extensive apprenticeship and attaining an undergraduate degree from Alabama Christian College in Montgomery, Glenn went to Northwestern University to complete his education in orthotics. Glenn took over operation of the company after his father’s death in 1982, and earned his orthotics certification in 1984. During his 20+ year career as a certified orthotist in Montgomery, Glenn has developed many lasting relationships with are physicians, physical therapists, allied health professionals, and clinics. One of Glenn’s strongest attributes is his ability to communicate with other allied health professionals and to apply his vast knowledge in orthotics to provide the most suitable orthotic management from the simplest diagnosis to the most complicated. Glenn has also served as president of the Alabama Prosthetic and Orthotic Association.
For Glenn Latimer, C.O., Glenn Crumpton, C.P.O., C.Ped. and Keith Uuro, B.O.C.P., a very high emphasis is placed on continuing education in order to stay in the forefront of the ever-changing world of prosthetics and orthotics. In late 2001, Alabama Artificial Limb Company and Orthopedic Service Company of Montgomery re-joined forces and became Alabama Artificial Limb & Orthopedic Service, Inc. Operating under one roof with one name has given the company much strength, and patients are and will continue to benefit in many ways from the merger. The combination of more than sixty years of experience and expertise from our practitioners, and the knowledge and care of future practitioners and administrative personnel will provide the highest level of care and service available. Today, AAL&OS has added a second full-time facility in Opelika, Alabama. The company also specializes in custom and pre-fabricated pedorthic devices, prescription footwear, and post-mastectomy forms and accessories.
The art and science of prosthetics and orthotics is constantly advancing, and the professional staff at AAL&OS can be relied upon to be in the forefront with new designs, techniques and components to assure patients of the finest available care.
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