Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
Richard D. Allen
Dr. Allen (Colorado State ’82), 59, Jerome, Idaho, died Feb. 9, 2015. He owned Jerome Veterinary Hospital, where he initially practiced mixed animal medicine, focusing on small animals the last 10 years. Dr. Allen was a past president of the Idaho Board of Veterinary Medicine. His wife, Mary, and two sons survive him.
J. W. Andress
Dr. Andress (Auburn ’52), 90, Pensacola, Florida, died Feb. 14, 2015. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Pensacola for 55 years. Dr. Andress was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. His wife, Sally; eight children; 21 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild survive him. Memorials may be made to the Escambia County Animal Shelter, 200 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501; or St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 4600 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503.
Stanley M. Dennis
Dr. Dennis (Sydney ’49), 90, Topeka, Kansas, died April 1, 2015. A diplomate and a past president of the American College of Theriogenologists, he was dean of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies, from 1992 until retirement in 2000. As dean, Dr. Dennis helped increase enrollment and led several major construction projects to improve the campus. In retirement, he served briefly as dean of the now closed American University of Antigua College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Dennis began his career in his native Australia, where he was in dairy practice for several years and served as a senior veterinary pathologist for the state of Western Australia. In 1966, he was appointed professor of pathology at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Dennis went on to serve as head of the pathology department for more than 20 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1992. During his tenure at KSU, he helped the university establish a veterinary college at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, and while on sabbatical, served as dean of the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Dr. Dennis was a fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Royal College of Pathologists, a founding member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, and a member of the Society for Theriogenology. He received the KSU Brandly Award for Excellence in Veterinary Medical Writing in 1975. In 2001, Dr. Dennis was honored as a Member of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his years of service in the West Indies. He served in the Australian Army during World War II.
Dr. Dennis is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters and two sons; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials toward the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine or Christ the King Catholic Church may be made c/o Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS 66610. Memorials may also be made to the Theriogenology Foundation.
Nicholas H. Fisfis
Dr. Fisfis (Pennsylvania ’61), 79, McMurray, Pennsylvania, died Jan. 2, 2015. Following graduation, he served in the Army Veterinary Corps for two years, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Fisfis then moved to Pittsburgh, where he bought a small animal practice that later became South Hills Animal Hospital. He was a member of the Pennsylvania VMA and American Animal Hospital Association and was active with the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, establishing its spay clinic. In 1975, Dr. Fisfis was honored with the PVMA Award of Merit. His wife, Helen; a son and a daughter; and four grandchildren survive him.
Karen D. Hicks-Alldredge
Dr. Hicks-Alldredge (Iowa State ’83), 62, Sweetwater, Texas, died March 9, 2015. She co-owned Sweetwater Veterinary Hospital, a mixed animal practice, with her husband, Dr. Bud E. Alldredge Jr. (Texas A&M ’69), since 1993. Dr. Hicks-Alldredge also served as an adjunct professor at Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater. Earlier in her career, she practiced in Midland, Texas, where she owned Mesquite Veterinary Clinic.
Dr. Hicks-Alldredge was a past president of the American Ostrich Association, served on the board of directors of the Texas VMA, and was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Association of Avian Veterinarians, United States Animal Health Association, and American Feed Industry Association. She was also a past president of the Rotary Club of Sweetwater and a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr. Hicks-Alldredge is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her son, Dr. Bud E. Alldredge III (Texas A&M ’95), is a mixed animal practitioner in Cleveland, Texas.
James R. Hinton
Dr. Hinton (Georgia ’84), 61, Gainesville, Georgia, died Feb. 16, 2015. In 1994, he established Northeast Georgia Veterinary Services, a mobile equine practice, serving all of northeast Georgia. Earlier in his career, Dr. Hinton practiced at Gainesville Veterinary Hospital. He was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Georgia VMA.
Dr. Hinton’s wife, Jeanne, and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to The Gainesville Aid Project, Antioch United Methodist Church, 2922 Antioch Church Road, Gainesville, GA 30506; or Georgia Equine Rescue League.
Thomas R. Kendall
Dr. Kendall (Purdue ’69), 69, Sacramento, California, died March 2, 2015. A two-term vice president of the AVMA, from 2002-2004, he owned Arden Animal Hospital in Sacramento. Dr. Kendall was also a co-founder of Mercer Veterinary Clinic for the Homeless in Davis, California, providing free medical care for animal companions of the homeless. He served as an associate clinical professor at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine since 1975 and mentored students through externships at Arden Animal Hospital.
At the time of his death, Dr. Kendall was president of the California Veterinary Medical Board and had recently resigned as president-elect of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. He was a past president of the California VMA, served on the AVMA Committee on Environmental Issues from 2006-2012, was the official liaison to the Student AVMA as AVMA vice president, and was appointed as alternate representing the American Animal Hospital Association on the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee in 2011.
Dr. Kendall served on the board of directors of the AAHA and was a member of the veterinary advisory board for Veterinary Pet Insurance. In 2008, he received a CVMA Distinguished Life Membership Award. Dr. Kendall was active in several community organizations, including Creative Initiative Foundation, People Working Together to Build a World Beyond War, and Nuclear Safeguards Initiative. He is survived by his wife, Dianne; a son; and a daughter. Memorials may be made to Mercer Veterinary Clinic for the Homeless, P.O. Box 297, Davis, CA 95617.
Jack S. Kimbrough
Dr. Kimbrough (Auburn ’61), 79, Shelbyville, Kentucky, died Dec. 4, 2014. He owned Shelbyville Veterinary Clinic, a large animal practice, for 37 years. Dr. Kimbrough was a past president of the Kentucky and Shelby County Cattlemen’s associations, a past chair of the Kentucky Beef Network, a past director of the Shelby County Farm Bureau, and a member of the Kentucky VMA and Shelby County Fair Board. He also served on the Kentucky Agriculture Resource Development Authority for several years. In 2002, Dr. Kimbrough was named Shelby County Farmer of the Year. He was inducted into the Farm Bureau Hall of Fame and received the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame Award in 2013. Dr. Kimbrough is survived by his wife, Liz; a son and daughter; and two grandchildren. Memorials toward a veterinary scholarship may be made to Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation, 176 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, KY 40503.
Joe D. Loftis
Dr. Loftis (Texas A&M ’58), 80, Rockwall, Texas, died Feb. 24, 2015. Following graduation, he established Rockwall Veterinary Clinic, a large animal practice, making house calls across several neighboring counties. Dr. Loftis later established Rockwall Veterinary Hospital. He served as veterinarian for the State Fair of Texas for more than a decade, was a past president of the North Texas Equine Practitioners Association, and served on Governor Dolph Briscoe’s Committee on Agriculture for Rockwall County. Active in civic life, Dr. Loftis was a past president of the Rockwall Rotary Club, served on the Rockwall Independent School Board, and was active with the 4-H Club and National FFA Organization. In 2009, he received the Rockwall Rotary Club’s Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Loftis’ wife, Jo Ann; two sons; and four grandchildren survive him. One son, Dr. J. David Loftis (Texas A&M ’90), took over Rockwall Veterinary Hospital on Dr. Loftis’ retirement. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 610 S. Goliad, Rockwall, TX 75087; or Hospice Plus, 3100 McKinnon St. #200, Dallas, TX 75201.
Paul E. Maland
Dr. Maland (Iowa State ’37), 98, Charles City, Iowa, died Oct. 26, 2014. Following graduation, he established a mixed animal practice in Charles City, where he worked for 50 years. Dr. Maland was active with the Elks and Lions clubs. His three daughters and two sons, 12 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Coats for Kids and/or Ministerial Fuel Fund), 200 N. Main St., Charles City, IA 50616; or The Learning Center, 404 N. Jackson St., Charles City, IA 50616.
Richard E. Miller
Dr. Miller (Cornell ’54), 87, Frederick, Maryland, died Dec. 3, 2014. A mixed animal veterinarian, he practiced at Adirondack Animal Hospital in Glens Falls, New York, prior to retirement. Dr. Miller also conducted pharmaceutical research for the Food and Drug Administration and Philips Roxane Laboratories in St. Joseph, Missouri. Early in his career, he owned a practice in Fort Plain, New York. Dr. Miller is survived by his wife, Margaret; two sons and three daughters; and several grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220.
Billy Y. Parker
Dr. Parker (Texas A&M ’54), 84, Fort Worth, Texas, died Dec. 7, 2014. A mixed animal veterinarian, he was the founder of Berry Street Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, where he practiced for 43 years. Dr. Parker was a past president of the Tarrant County VMA and a member of the Texas VMA. He was also a past president of the Fort Worth Southeast Lions Club and a member of the Fort Worth Masonic Lodge. Dr. Parker served in the Army Veterinary Corps during the Korean War, attaining the rank of captain.
His wife, Dorothy; two sons and a daughter; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him. One grandchild, Dr. Christy Rutherford (Texas A&M ’11), is a veterinarian in Weatherford, Texas. Memorials may be made to the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Class of ’54 Scholarship Fund, 4461 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843; or Texas Lions Camp, 4100 San Antonio Highway, Kerrville, TX 78028.
Robert G. Schirmer Sr.
Dr. Schirmer (Cornell ’46), 89, Port Aransas, Texas, died Oct. 16, 2014. He was a member of the veterinary faculty at Michigan State University for more than 40 years prior to retirement. During his tenure, Dr. Schirmer served as a professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and chaired the department from 1979-1987.
He was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a past president of the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians. Dr. Schirmer received what is now known as the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award in 1965. In 1989, he was named an honorary veterinary alumnus by the MSU CVM, and, in 1990, he received the college’s Distinguished Faculty Award. The Robert G. Schirmer Post-Doctoral Fellowship was established to support students in large or small animal clinical sciences.
Dr. Schirmer is survived by four sons and a daughter; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Robert G. Schirmer Post-Doctoral Fellowship, c/o Shelly Jackson, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824; Hospice of Lansing, 4052 Legacy Parkway, Suite 200, Lansing, MI 48911; or Barry County Humane Society, Dog Park Fund, 723 E. Mill St., Hastings, MI 49058.
J. Edward Swonder
Dr. Swonder (Michigan State ’50), 92, Vincennes, Indiana, died Jan. 9, 2015. He was the founder of Southgate Veterinary Clinic in Vincennes, where he initially practiced large animal medicine, focusing later on small animals. Dr. Swonder was also active with the Knox County Humane Society for several years. He retired in 1993.
Dr. Swonder was a past president of the Southwestern Indiana VMA and a member of the Indiana VMA. He was also a past president of the Vincennes Rotary Club and served on the Vincennes Community School Board from 1984-1988. In 2003, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Frank O’Bannon for his contributions toward restoring the Cannonball Bridge for commuters in Vincennes and in Francisville, Illinois.
Dr. Swonder was a Navy veteran of World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; two daughters and two sons; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. One son, Dr. Roy B. Swonder (Purdue ’77), practices at Southgate Veterinary Clinic. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 411 N. 4th St., Vincennes, IN 47591.