Charles Seger

Charles E. Seger, OD, FAAO
Member, Berkeley Optometry Hall of Fame

Dr. Charles Seger was born in Sherwood, North Dakota on November 7, 1919. He received his BA from the State Teachers College in Minor, North Dakota in 1941, and served in the US Navy during World War II. He graduated with honors from Berkeley Optometry in 1948. He maintained a private practice in San Luis Obispo, California from 1948 to 1986.

Respected nationally for his many leadership roles in the profession, he has been President, California Optometric Association (1960–61); President, American Optometric Association (1964–65); President, Vision Institute of America (1964-65); Chair, Council on Optometric Education, American Optometric Association (1965-75); President, California Chapter, American Academy of Optometry (1973-74); Chair, fundraising drive for Berkeley Optometry (1978); Chair, Board of Directors, California Vision Services (VSP, 1984-85); and optometric consultant, San Luis Obispo County Welfare Department.

Dr. Seger has served on a number of committees for the American Optometric Association, including member, Nominating Committee (1960); Chair, Resolutions Committee (1961); and Chair, Judicial Council (1965-66). He was also a member of the American Optometric Foundation, the Better Vision Institute, and the American Public Health Association, as well as the State Peer Review Committee of the California Optometric Association (1974–75 and 1980–81). He was honored with honorary life memberships by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (1965) and the North Dakota Optometric Association (1965). He served as a consultant to the New England Board of Higher Education on the feasibility of the establishment of a regional university, which would include a school of optometry. He was elected by his peers as a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Diplomat of the Contact Lens Section.

Dr. Seger is listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities (1939–40 and 1940–41), Who’s Who in the West (1965), Personalities of the West and Midwest (1969), and Who’s Who in the United States (1975). He was voted Alumnus of the Year by the Optometry Alumni Association of UC (1963) and Optometrist of the Year by the California Optometric Association (1967). He received an honorary Doctor of Ocular Science from the Illinois College of Optometry (1975) and is a “Distinguished Practitioner in Optometry” of the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Seger was awarded “The Wheeler Oak Outstanding Service Citation” by the University of California, Berkeley Foundation in 1979.

Dr. Seger was the selected speaker for groundbreaking ceremonies at Pacific University School of Optometry (1965); Commencement Speaker, Berkeley Optometry (1970); and Commencement Speaker, Illinois College of Optometry (1975). He served as a member of the Commission on the Study of Optometric Education.

Dr. Seger’s community service includes President, San Luis Obispo Exchange Club (1952); President, Quintana PTA, 1962–63; President, Central Coast Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (1973–74); member, San Luis Obispo Semi-pro Baseball Club for eight years; member, Parks and Recreation Commission, City of San Luis Obispo for five years; member, American Legion Post number 66; and honorary life member, Teach School PTA and California State PTA. Dr. Seger died April 30, 2013.