Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Richard D. Barnes

Dr. Barnes (MSU ’53), 83, Livonia, Mich., died Oct. 12, 2012. He practiced small animal medicine at Dearborn Veterinary Hospital in Dearborn, Mich., for 42 years. Dr. Barnes was active with the Dearborn Outer Drive Kiwanis Club. He served in the Army during the Korean War. Dr. Barnes’ wife, Joyce, and three sons survive him.

Joseph T. Blake

Dr. Blake (ISU ’56), 94, Logan, Utah, died March 31, 2013. He was a professor at Utah State University prior to retirement in 1982. During his tenure, Dr. Blake taught animal science and conducted research on bovine heart disease. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Dr. Blake is survived by three daughters and two sons.

Romaine J. Buzzetti

Dr. Buzzetti (ISU ’49), 93, Argyle, Wis., died Feb. 7, 2013. Prior to retirement in 1987, he practiced small animal medicine with his oldest son, Dr. Robert C. Buzzetti (ISU ’75), in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dr. Buzzetti began his career in Alden, Iowa, where he owned a mixed animal practice for several years. During that time, he designed a mobile unit for use in large animal medicine that eventually became the prototype for similar units used today. Dr. Buzzetti then worked in Rogers, Ark., before joining his son in practice in Florida. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and earned several medals and commendations for his service.

Dr. Buzzetti is survived by two sons and two daughters. His other son Dr. Anthony R. Buzzetti (ISU ’85) is also a small animal veterinarian in Indianapolis. Dr. Buzzetti’s son-in-law, Dr. Byron G. Boysen (ISU ’67), is a retired veterinary pathologist in Argyle, Wis. Memorials may be made to the ISU Foundation, 2505 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010.

Terry R. Coonradt

Dr. Coonradt (ISU ’78), 60, Canton, Ill., died March 3, 2013. A small animal practitioner, he owned Northview Animal Hospital in Canton. Earlier in his career, Dr. Coonradt owned Spoon River Animal Clinic in Canton. He was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association and Illinois State VMA. Dr. Coonradt was a past president of the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce. His wife, Jeanne; a daughter; and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to Fulton County Humane Society, 22988 E. State Highway 9, Canton, IL 61520.

Garland R. Farmer

Dr. Farmer (COL ’45), 89, Portland, Ore., died Jan. 9, 2013. Following graduation, he joined the Army with the rank of 1st lieutenant and worked as a food inspector in Kansas and Missouri. In 1947, Dr. Farmer was sent to Greece as part of the European Recovery Program, which helped rebuild European economies after World War II. He was later stationed in Giessen, Germany, where he continued his work as a food inspector. In 1950, Dr. Farmer moved back to the United States, working in Colorado for the next few years. He then studied nuclear physics at Reed College in Portland and worked as the health director for the Armed Forces Special Weapons Program for Above-Ground Nuclear Testing in Nevada.

In 1963, Dr. Farmer went to La Paz, Bolivia, where he supervised the construction of a food dehydration and packaging plant for the Bolivian military and managed the construction of eight Bolivian Army Demonstration and Production Farms. Dr. Farmer was honored with the Bolivian National Order of the Condor of the Andes for his service. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel in 1966.

In retirement, Dr. Farmer served as the radiation health director for the state of Oregon for several years, authored the book “Unready Kilowatts: The High Tension Politics of Ecology,” served as a private environmental consultant, and worked for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. His wife, Margaret, and a son survive him.

Sandra L. Harris-Davidson

Dr. Harris-Davidson (OSU ’73), 64, Columbus, N.C., died Jan. 29, 2013. She practiced small animal medicine at Landrum Veterinary Hospital in Landrum, S.C., and Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital in Columbus and volunteered her services at the Foothills Humane Society. Dr. Harris-Davidson also bred, raised, and trained Trakehner horses. Earlier in her career, she worked in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Dr. Harris-Davidson was a member of the North East Ohio Dressage Association, Foothills Riding Club, and Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department. Her husband, Timothy, survives her. Memorials may be made to Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus, NC 28722; or Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glenn Drive, Columbus, NC 28722.

Robert L. Kennedy

Dr. Kennedy (COR ’55), 81, Greenwich, N.Y., died Jan. 28, 2013. Prior to retirement at the age of 70, he owned Durham-Newmarket Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Durham, N.H. Before that, Dr. Kennedy owned Croton-on-Hudson Veterinary Clinic, a small animal practice in Croton, N.Y. Early in his career, he practiced equine medicine at Roosevelt Raceway and Meadowlands Raceway and was racetrack veterinarian at Yonkers Raceway for more than 20 years. Dr. Kennedy served as a 1st lieutenant in the Army as part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. His wife, Barbara; seven daughters; and three sons survive him.

Mort Kramer

Dr. Kramer (MID ’45), 91, Northport, N.Y., died Feb. 4, 2013. Prior to retirement in 1991, he owned Huntington Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Huntington Station, N.Y. Dr. Kramer was a member of the New York State VMS and Long Island VMA. He traveled to Europe after World War II as part of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, helping with the effort to restock the continent with horses. In 1964, Dr. Kramer volunteered his services in Liberia and was awarded the Order of the Star of Africa from Liberian president William Tubman. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and two sons. One son, Dr. Jeff Kramer (COR ’80), owns Huntington Animal Hospital.

Robert L. Miller

Dr. Miller (UP ’47), 88, Fallbrook, Calif., died Feb. 2, 2013. He moved to Fallbrook in 1948 and established Fallbrook Veterinary Hospital, where he practiced mixed animal medicine until retirement in 1984. Dr. Miller also provided mobile veterinary services. Earlier in his career, Dr. Miller practiced in California at Fullerton and Anaheim. He was a founding member and a past president of the San Diego County VMA and a life member of the California VMA. Dr. Miller was also a past president of the Fallbrook Lions Club, an honorary member of the Fallbrook 4-H Club and Fallbrook chapter of the National FFA Organization, a founding member of the Fallbrook Ag Boosters Club, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, and was active with the Eagle Scouts. He received several honors for his civic service, including the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree from the FFA in 1957, San Diego Boy Scout Council’s Silver Beaver Award in 1976, and Honorary Service Award from the Fallbrook High School Parent Teachers Association in 1980. Dr. Miller’s wife, Saranda; two daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Fallbrook Ag Boosters, P.O. Box 2913, Fallbrook, CA 92088.

Alex P. Murray

Dr. Murray (MSU ’56), 81, Bay City, Mich., died Jan. 8, 2013. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned Tri-City Animal Hospital in Bay City for 34 years. In retirement, Dr. Murray practiced part-time in Michigan. He was a past member of the Bay City Board of Education. Dr. Murray is survived by his wife, Patricia, and four sons. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Animal Health Foundation, 2144 Commons Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2956 E. North Union Road, Bay City, MI 48706; or The Salvation Army, 615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313.

Harry L. Newell

Dr. Newell (OSU ’56), 82, St. Albans, W.Va., died March 8, 2013. Following graduation, he practiced small animal medicine at Charleston Veterinary Hospital and Avalon Dog and Cat Hospital in South Charleston. Five years later, Dr. Newell established Gateway Animal Hospital in St. Albans, W.Va., also establishing two part-time clinics in Madison and Logan, W.Va., which he later converted into full time hospitals. He went on to own and operate the Williamson Animal Hospital in Williamson, W.Va.; Phillips Animal Hospital in Charleston; Hurricane Veterinary Clinic in Hurricane, W.Va.; and Academy Animal Hospital in St. Albans. Dr. Newell served twice as the president of the West Virginia VMA and was a past president of the West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine. He was a past chair of the AVMA Political Action Committee Policy Board and served as West Virginia’s delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 1978-1984.

Dr. Newell was a member of the West Virginia State House of Delegates from 1977-1978, a past president of the St. Albans Chamber of Commerce and St. Albans Rotary Club, and a past treasurer of the South Charleston Community Civic Council. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. Dr. Newell received The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Recognition Award in 1981 and was West Virginia Veterinarian of the Year in 1988. He is survived by a daughter and two sons.

Robert W. Phillips

Dr. Phillips (COL ’61), 84, Fort Collins, Colo., died Feb. 26, 2013.

After time in Montana as a rancher-cowboy, Dr. Phillips earned a doctorate in physiology and nutrition at the University of California-Davis. In 1964, he joined the Colorado State University faculty, where he was a professor of veterinary physiology and biophysics in the Department of Physiology. He trained a number of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in his laboratory, and some 130 papers were published in scientific journals as a result of research conducted. Colorado State presented Dr. Phillips with The Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award in 1983 and the 50 Year Career Achievement Award in 2010.

In June 1991, Dr. Phillips served on the ground crew for the Spacelab Life Sciences 1 mission aboard the shuttle Columbia, as principal contact on one of two radio loops between the payload crew and scientists on the ground whose experiments were being conducted. Originally, NASA had chosen him in 1984 to be aboard that flight. He had trained for six years as a payload specialist before developing a cardiac arrhythmia that removed his flight eligibility.

After SLS 1, he spent three years at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., as chief scientist for the space station. In 1994, he joined NASA’s Life Science Division, providing education and outreach primarily to science teachers and students. Dr. Phillips retired in 2005 but continued to give presentations about living in space and wrote the book “Grappling with Gravity: How Will Life Adapt to Living in Space?”

A veteran of the Korean War stationed in Alaska, he rose to the rank of first lieutenant in the infantry.

Dr. Phillips was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, a distinguished scholar of the National Academies of Practice, and an emeritus member of the American Physiological Society and the American Institute of Nutrition. From 1998-2012, Dr. Phillips served on the board of directors for the Mark Morris Institute. His recent civic activities in Fort Collins included chairing the Expansion Grant Writing Subcommittee and serving on the Senior Advisory Board, Senior Center Expansion Committee, and Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; three sons; and a daughter. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Robert and Nancy Phillips Scholarship fund to support CSU veterinary students whose studies emphasize nutrition or the biochemical processes related to metabolism in humans or other animals. Checks, notated with the scholarship name, should be mailed to Colorado State University Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1870.

Donald B. Popejoy

Dr. Popejoy (AUB ’58), 78, Scottsboro, Ala., died Jan. 30, 2013. He was a partner in a small animal practice in Huntsville, Ala., for 26 years prior to retirement in 1990. Earlier in his career, Dr. Popejoy served in the Air Force. He was a past president of the Alabama and Madison County VMAs. Dr. Popejoy’s wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters survive him. Memorials toward the Don Popejoy Spay/Neuter Fund may be made to Williams Animal Clinic, 23579 John T. Reid Parkway, Scottsboro, AL 35768.

Harry E. Reddick Jr.

Dr. Reddick (COR ’49), 88, Dos Palos, Calif., died Jan. 14, 2013. Following graduation, he began working in Modesto, Calif., and, in 1951, he established his own mixed animal practice, where he remained until retirement 25 years later. Dr. Reddick helped with the efforts to contain the anthrax epidemic in the 1950s and ‘60s. He was also known for his expertise in dairy and feedlot medicine and spearheaded a biological pest control program in feedlots in the 1970s, using larval wasps to target flies. Active in civic life, Dr. Reddick was a past member of the Dos Palos School Board. He is survived by his wife, Maxine; two sons; a daughter; two stepdaughters; and two stepsons.

Holly H. Reed

Dr. Reed (CAL ’86), 56, Bellevue, Wash., died Nov. 17, 2012. An exotic animal practitioner, she was senior veterinarian at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash. Dr. Reed began her career as an associate veterinarian at the Albert Animal Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. From 1987-1989, she served as staff veterinarian at the Primate Foundation of Arizona in Phoenix. Dr. Reed then worked a year at the Bear Valley Bird and Animal Hospital in Apple Valley, Calif., before joining what was known as Paramount’s Kings Island Wild Animal Habitat in Kings Island, Ohio, as a staff veterinarian. Dr. Reed began her career at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in 1995. In addition to serving as veterinarian, she was species survival plan adviser for polar bears and red wolves, designed the animal hospital, coordinated internship/preceptor/externship programs for veterinary students, and provided relief veterinary services and helped develop veterinary programs for Northwest Trek Animal Park in Eatonville, Wash.

During her career, Dr. Reed also consulted for Polar Bears International and Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and served as the veterinarian for research projects in Kenya and Papua New Guinea. She was a fellow of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and a member of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, serving on several of its committees. Dr. Reed’s husband, James, and a son survive her. Memorials may be made to Camp Side-by-Side, c/o University Presbyterian Church, 4540 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98105; or Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Zoo Society Conservation Fund, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma, WA 98407.

Thurston J. Shirley Jr.

Dr. Shirley (GA ’58), 79, Pendleton, S.C., died Jan. 2, 2013. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Pendleton for more than 48 years prior to retirement. Dr. Shirley volunteered with the Anderson County Humane Society and Clemson University Bull Test Station and helped establish the veterinary technology program at Tri-County Technical College. He is survived by a son and three daughters. Memorials may be made to Anderson County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2262, Anderson, SC 29622; or Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.

Charles F. Uecker

Dr. Uecker (COL ’54), 87, Hettinger, N.D., died Dec. 1, 2012. He founded West River Veterinary Clinic, a large animal practice in Hettinger, where he practiced until retirement in 1993. In retirement, Dr. Uecker twice served as state veterinarian, in 1995 and in 1997. Dr. Uecker was a past president of the North Dakota VMA and a past member of the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and what was known as the North Dakota Livestock Sanitary Board. He served as North Dakota’s alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 1972-1974 and was delegate from 1974-1976.

In 1985, Dr. Uecker was named North Dakota Veterinarian of the Year. He was active with the Hettinger Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Boy Scouts of America. An avid gardener, Dr. Uecker received the North Dakota State University Outstanding Agriculturist Award in 1993. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima. Dr. Uecker received a Presidential Citation for his service. His wife, Edna; a daughter; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Hettinger Lutheran Church, 904 2nd Ave. S., Hettinger, ND 58639; or Dakota Buttes Museum, 400 11th St. S., Hettinger, ND 58639.