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Paul E. Leimkuehler Elected President of the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Assn.
OALMA turned to one of its outstanding members in choosing the first President to serve under the new name of the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association. Paul E. Leimkuehler, Certified Prosthetist of Cleveland, Ohio, was formally installed at the National Assembly in Dallas, Texas, October 21.
The new President, though a comparatively young man, has had twelve years of outstanding achievement in prosthetics. He has been active in the Association for several years, serving successively as Regional Director for Region V (Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia), as Program Chairman for the 1955 Assembly and as Vice President. Formerly a member of the Committee on Prosthetics Research and Development of the National Research Council, he is a Past President of the Ohio State Rehabilitation Association.
Mr. Leimkuehler lost his limb in World War II, during the Battle of the Bulge. He was a First Lieutenant in the infantry. While convalescing at McGuire General Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Leimkuehler volunteered his services to the artificial limb facility in the hospital and his interest in helping amputees has its first beginnings there.
He entered the artificial limb field officially in Cleveland in 1948, organizing the Leimkuehler Limb Company. In the years since then Mr. Leimkuehler has made prosthetics his all embracing interest. He is a graduate of the special courses in this field offered at the University of California Los Angeles, New York University, Northwestern University. He now serves as Consultant on four amputee clinics in Greater Cleveland. A special interest is the fitting of congenital leg deformities with individually designed artificial limbs.
Before losing his leg, Mr. Leimkuehler was active in sports. He was Ohio State Bicycle Racing Champion and also raced in ice skating. Since his amputation, his sporting interests have turned to golfing and skiing. He has participated in the National Amputee Golf Tournament for the past 8 years. Mr. Leimkuehler skiis on one leg and has amazed many two-legged skiers with his remarkable skill on high mountains.
Mr. Leimkuehler is married and the father of four children, Paulette, aged 14; Jon, 12; Bob, aged 8, and Bill, aged 4. Mrs. Leimkuehler is a former President of the OALMA Ladies Auxiliary.
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