Dr. Russell Cobb, founder of the one of the Triad's largest and most well-known chiropractic clinics died Thursday afternoon. He was 66 years old.

Cobb, owner of Cobb Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 N. Elm St., died following a 20-year battle with manic depression, said Doug Harris, his longtime attorney.

Harris said Cobb committed suicide at his Summerfield home after going off medications to treat the illness because of risks it posed to his liver.

"Basically everything in his life was going well," Harris said.

"He had no problems and it was the nature of the beast that he became concerned about things that wouldn't concern a person who was mentally healthy. There was no reason for it."

Cobb, a Caswell County native, opened his practice in 1977 and it has served more than 25,000 patients.

"He always said what was best for his patients was most important," said Dr. Steven Rubin, who has worked for Cobb at the practice for almost 14 years.

"I think in the medical profession, that's what we would all like to see."

Cobb was also known for his many commercials advertising the clinic. But he also had his share of legal problems throughout the years.

In the late 1988, Cobb ran into money problems and filed for bankruptcy, listing debts of $15 million.

In 1989, he pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently obtaining $5.7 million in loans. He served a six-month sentence at a community correction center. The conviction also led to a six month suspension of his chiropractic license by state officials.

Harris said the court issues revealed Cobb's mental health problems and he was diagnosed with manic depression.

With the help of medication, Cobb rebounded and returned to his practice and continued to be successful.

"Once he took his medication, he didn't have these problems," Harris said. "He resumed his practice, kept it going and built it back up."

Harris said he represented many of Cobb's patients as well, and remembers the doctor's willingness to go out of the way to help them out.

"I had to call him and tell him that there was no possibility of getting paid (from some patients)," Harris said.

"He kept treating people for no money. He was an unusually kind man and that was a unusual trait."

Personally, Harris said Cobb was a quiet man and spent much of his free time with his family and serving his church, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church.

Cobb leaves behind a wife, Marie and three grown sons -- Tony, Rusty and Shane.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Friday morning.

Cobb's clinic is expected to continue operation.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

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