Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Avery L. Blalock

Dr. Blalock (AUB ’43), 86, Sylvania, Ga., died March 7, 2006. He owned a practice in Sylvania since 1943. Dr. Blalock also helped establish a no-kill animal shelter in Screven County, Ga., and was involved with the county’s livestock festival. His wife, Mary Frances; a daughter; and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to Sylvania First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 318, Sylvania, GA 30467; Screven County Cancer Society, c/o Teresa Harley, 210 Sylvan Circle, Sylvania, GA 30467; or Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30458.

Ralph G. Buckner

Dr. Buckner (KSU ’56), 84, Stillwater, Okla., died Dec. 29, 2005. A member of the veterinary faculty at Oklahoma State University for 30 years, he served as professor and retired in 1986 as head of small animal medicine. Following retirement, Dr. Buckner owned a companion animal referral practice and consulted with veterinarians across the state and region.

A charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, he established one of the few colonies of hemophilic Beagles in the nation. Dr. Buckner’s research on inherited canine hemophilia paved the way for understanding the pathogenesis of classic hemophilia in people, the source of factor VII in the body, and its important role in blood coagulation. A life member of the Oklahoma VMA, he was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1986. In 1990, the American Animal Hospital Association presented Dr. Buckner the Outstanding Practitioner Award for the Western Region.

A World War II veteran, he served as a pilot in the Air Corps, attaining the rank of lieutenant. Dr. Buckner’s wife, Jacqueline; a son; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to the Elk City Education Foundation, Elk City, OK 73644.

Kenneth L. Carlson

Dr. Carlson (KSU ’71), 58, Madill, Okla., died Feb. 19, 2006. He owned a practice in Madill. Dr. Carlson was active with the 4-H Club and the National FFA Organization. His wife, Barbara; two sons; and a daughter survive him.

Roger M. Cocking

Dr. Cocking (ISU ’34), 93, Sunburg, Minn., died March 12, 2006. Prior to retirement in the late 60s, he owned a practice in Colorado Springs, Colo. Earlier in his career, Dr. Cocking practiced in northeastern Iowa and taught veterinary anatomy at Iowa State University. His two sons and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Sunburg Ambulance Service, c/o Dorothy Van Hal, 13660 225th Ave. N.W., Sunburg, MN 56289.

Roy M. Craig

Dr. Craig (KSU ’59), 80, Lebanon, Ore., died Jan. 20, 2006. Prior to retirement in 1987, he owned a practice in Lebanon. Earlier in his career, Dr. Craig owned a practice in Wamego, Kan. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Dr. Craig is survived by his wife, Jenny; a daughter; and two stepchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Fisher Funeral Home, 306 S.W. Washington, Albany, OR 97321.

Franklin D. Custer

Dr. Custer (MSU ’43), 85, Oakland, Md., died March 25, 2006. He owned a practice in the Oakland area for 25 years. During his career, Dr. Custer also worked for the Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Agriculture, in meat and poultry inspection and animal disease control.

Active with Garrett County Habitat for Humanity, he chaired its building committee for several years. Dr. Custer was a longtime member and a past district governor of the Rotary Club. His wife, Lorena; two sons; and three daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Garrett County Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 363, Oakland, MD 21550; or St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 318 E. Oak St., Oakland, MD 21550.

Gerald R. Fuller

Dr. Fuller (TEX ’54), 86, Mesa, Ariz., died Feb. 7, 2006. During his career, he taught at Arizona State University in Tempe and worked for the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Dr. Fuller served in the Army Reserve, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. His wife, Glenda; five sons; and a daughter survive him.

Berlin Harris

Dr. Harris (GA ’57), 85, East Ridge, Tenn., died Oct. 11, 2005. He owned a practice in East Ridge for 47 years. Dr. Harris was a past president of Hamilton County VA. His wife, Jean; three sons; and two daughters survive him.

D. Rich Hollist

Dr. Hollist (COL ’87), 50, Fountain, Colo., died Jan. 15, 2006. He owned Southmoor Veterinary Clinic in Fountain and served as veterinary columnist for The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, Colo. Dr. Hollist also worked at a spay-and-neuter clinic in Pueblo, Colo., and the South Animal Emergency Care Center in Colorado Springs. Early in his career, he practiced at Windham Animal Hospital in Windham, N.H. Dr. Hollist’s wife, Jerilynn; two sons; and two daughters survive him.

Darrell L. Jessen

Dr. Jessen (ILL ’55), 75, Girard, Ill., died Nov. 30, 2005. He owned a practice in Girard for 48 years. Early in his career, Dr. Jessen practiced in McLean, Ill. A life member of the Illinois State VMA, he served on its Judicial and Ethics Committee. Dr. Jessen was a past president of the Central Illinois VMA. He was also a past president of the Girard Chamber of Commerce and was named Girard Citizen of the Year in 1997.

Dr. Jessen is survived by his wife, Barbara; three sons; and a daughter. His son, Dr. James L. Jessen (ILL ’89), is a veterinarian in Columbia, Ill. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 700 W. Center, Girard, IL 62640; or Girard Fire Department, 506 W. North St., Girard, IL 62640.

Emil J. Kasik

Dr. Kasik (OKL ’62), 72, Lincoln, Neb., died Jan. 18, 2006. He owned Kasik Veterinary Hospital in Lincoln. Dr. Kasik was a life member of the Nebraska VMA. A veteran of the Korean War, he served in the Coast Guard. Dr. Kasik was also a member of the American Legion. His wife, Joan; a daughter; and a son survive him.

Charles B. Morley

Dr. Morley (GA ’61), 74, Laurel, Md., died March 12, 2006. Prior to retirement in 2005, he owned Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital in Laurel, a practice established by his father, Dr. L. Curtis Morley (now deceased) in the early 1950s. Dr. Morley was a member of the Maryland VMA and served in an advisory capacity with the Maryland Boston Terrier Club and Old English Sheepdog Club.

He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. A past vice president of the Greater Laurel Area Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Morley headed its education committee for several years. He was also a past leader of the City of Laurel Ethics Committee. Dr. Morley is survived by his wife, Georgianna; three daughters; and a son. His brother, Dr. L. Scott Morley (GA ’60), is a veterinarian in Jacksonville, Fla. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Real F. Ransom

Dr. Ransom (TEX ’89), 42, Round Rock, Texas, died Sept. 17, 2005. He practiced at the Great Oaks Animal Hospital in Ransom, a practice he established in 1991.

Jon B. Rosenberg

Dr. Rosenberg (PUR ’84), 51, Waterford, Conn., died Feb. 23, 2006. He worked as a field veterinarian for Fort Dodge Animal Health in Connecticut and conducted research on dairy production and quality. During his career, Dr. Rosenberg also worked for Pfizer Animal Health in Connecticut and Schering Plough in New Jersey. He was a member of the American Association of Industrial Veterinarians.

Dr. Rosenberg’s wife, Janet; three sons; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to The Purdue University Foundation for the Dr. Jon Rosenberg Dairy Production Medicine Scholarship, Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, Lynn Hall, Room 1177A, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907.

Anthony R. Rubano

Dr. Rubano (MO ’63), 69, Scottsdale, Ariz., died Sept. 24, 2005. He retired in 1999 from the Animal Hospital at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, later returning to practice as a part-time relief veterinarian. During his career, Dr. Rubano also practiced in New Mexico and Texas. The Arizona VMA granted him life membership, posthumously.

Dr. Rubano’s wife, Jean; two sons; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Food Bank, 2831 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009; Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Inc., 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245; or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Robert P. Schmidt

Dr. Schmidt (ILL ’63), 77, Frederick, Md., died Dec. 14, 2005. Retired since 1999, he worked for several agencies during his career, including the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Agriculture. A Navy veteran of World War II, Dr. Schmidt served in the South Pacific theatre. He was a member of the Western Maryland VMA, American Legion, and Civil Air Patrol of Frederick. Dr. Schmidt is survived by his wife, Jan; two sons; and a daughter.

Sydney M. Smith

Dr. Smith (WSU ’39), 93, Palo Alto, Calif., died Sept. 15, 2005. A life member of the California VMA, he owned El Camino Veterinary Hospital in Palo Alto.

Robert M. Stader

Dr. Stader (OSU ’46), 82, Helendale, Calif., died Sept. 24, 2005. He owned Village Veterinary Clinic in Helendale. Dr. Stader was a member of the California VMA.

Joseph O. Virgin

Dr. Virgin (WSU ’52), 85, Lake Forest Park, Wash., died Feb. 22, 2006. Prior to retirement, he owned a practice in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. Earlier in his career, Dr. Virgin co-established a practice in Lake City, Wash. He was a past president of the Seattle-King and Snohomish County VMAs. A Navy veteran of World War II, Dr. Virgin served in the South Pacific. His wife, Evelyn; a daughter; and three sons survive him. Memorials may be made to Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164.

Ronald M. Wesner

Dr. Wesner (KSU ’61), 69, St. Louis, died Feb. 21, 2006. Prior to retirement in 1994, he was a partner at Dr. Binders Small Animal Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. Wesner was an Army veteran, attaining the rank of captain. His wife, Patricia; three daughters; and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601; or St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 2761 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.