I read the works of Karl and Will Menninger decades ago, and they talked much of values, ideals, dreams—the value of the person no matter what his or her situation, of one’s residence and home town, of religion, and of treatment with dignity. For example, Dr. Karl’s 1959 book, A Psychiatrist’s World, includes "My Town," "Reverence for Life," "My Favorite Tree," and a treasury of clinical papers. The Menninger story, as told in this book, is the story of a physician father and his sons, of a mother who held bible classes, of roots laid down, and of a tree that spread robust branches for nourishment and shelter.

In the earlier years of the last century, this vision attracted many notable students of the human condition to Topeka and many patients. After reading the Menningers’ writings, I became one of the hundreds of the less notable professionals who came to Topeka to be part of this dream.

As always occurs, there was a gap between the aspirations and their attainment. Dr. Karl could not always follow his own ideals, but the values and dream were there to reach for. The Menninger family and clinic roots were here, in the nourishing soil.

Recently in Topeka the long-anticipated decision was announced that Menninger was moving to Houston. But it is more authentic to say that the dream is over, the values of family, rooted values, the special dignity of the person in a particular place. The dream has been abandoned. As a Menninger therapist said, "The soul is gone." A new entity will arise in Houston, a birth from new parentage.

But let there be no mistake—Menninger is not moving to Houston. One can no more move the Menninger that many of us came to Topeka for than you can move the London Bridge to Arizona or build any structure one wants to build in Las Vegas, no matter how financially successful, and think that it is anything other than a poor imitation of the entity it is supposed to represent.

A new story is starting in Houston, a business venture. With parents? No matter if the name Menninger is used, it will not be the same place regardless of how much marketing occurs. This is not to say that the new entity may not excel in many ways, but the entity in Houston will not be the Menninger that brought me and my family and many others to Topeka.

Yes, I am mourning the death of Menninger, of the values that one tries to reach and not abandon no matter the difficulty of the journey. When mourning is over, will we still remember the Menninger we knew, who appear to have forgotten their dream.

Roy B. Lacoursiere, M.D.

Topeka, Kan.