DR. RITTER PLANS TO HELP

A familiar name is closing up shop. After 28 years, Dr. C. John Ritter quit his private practice at year's end.

But the 59-year-old Cape Girardeau physician won't be leading a retiring life. To his credit, he plans to devote his time and energies to medical missions and charitable work both here and abroad.

He will work through the Doctors to the World charity, and he may go to Africa on a medical mission with the Methodist church. He also hopes to work with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Service is nothing new for Ritter. In November 1995, he and wife, Marcia, who is trained as a nurse, spent a month caring for residents of the tiny Caribbean island of Barbuda in the aftermath of a hurricane. He had also spent a monthlong medical mission in 1993 on the island of 1,200, which only has one doctor. He also served 14 years on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education.

Many wish we could do more for people in need. Dr. Ritter has put his philanthropic thoughts into action. We wish him well in such an admirable pursuit.