Walter Lorenz became interested in surgical instruments during his years at Sieburg College in Germany where he worked for his uncle’s surgical instrument company. Immigrating to the United States in 1959, he went on to build one of Jacksonville’s premiere surgical instrument companies and manufactured more than 10,000 different instruments for jaw and skull surgery.

Developing close ties over the years with Dr. M. Franklin Dolwick, former chairman of the UF Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dr. Robert Bryan, former interim president of UF, Walter Lorenz established an endowed scholarship in 1990 to support students enrolled in the Maxillofacial Surgery residency program. Lorenz was named an honorary alumnus of UF in 1991 and was recognized for his contributions to the university as well as to dental and maxillofacial research nationwide. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 62 due to complications from diabete