Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
Brian M. Atwell
Dr. Atwell (Auburn '01), 44, Haiku, Hawaii, died Aug. 10, 2017. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Makawao Veterinary Clinic in Makawao, Hawaii. Earlier in his career, Dr. Atwell practiced in Tennessee, Wyoming, and North Carolina.
He is survived by his life partner, Lizzie Immarino; his parents; and a brother.
Charles L. Boyd
Dr. Boyd (Texas A&M '45), 95, College Station, Texas, died Oct. 4, 2017. He was professor emeritus at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences since 1986. Following graduation, Dr. Boyd worked for the Houston Health Department for two years. He subsequently moved to Grandview, Texas, where he owned a general practice for several years. Dr. Boyd joined the veterinary faculty at Texas A&M in 1967. During his tenure, he served as chief of the veterinary college's large animal clinic, was chief of surgery, and headed the Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery for seven years. Dr. Boyd also conducted research with the College of Engineering in fracture repair implants and prostheses.
Active in organized veterinary medicine, he was a past president of the Texas and Brazos Valley VMAs. He was a past recipient of the TVMA Faculty Teaching Award and was honored by the Former Students Association of Texas A&M University with the Faculty Achievement Award.
Dr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX 77843; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; or Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845.
Edward L. Chandler
Dr. Chandler (Georgia '62), 79, Easley, South Carolina, died July 27, 2017. He worked for the state of South Carolina in meat inspection prior to retirement. Following graduation and until 1968, Dr. Chandler served in the Air Force. During that time, he earned a master's in food science and technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1966); served as a base veterinarian in Homestead, Florida; and was stationed in Taiwan, where he worked in meat inspection. Dr. Chandler attained the rank of captain. Subsequent to his military service, he owned a mixed animal practice in Manning, South Carolina, for several years. He later worked for the Department of Agriculture in Atlanta in poultry inspection before returning to South Carolina to work for the state.
Dr. Chandler's wife, Linda Delores; a daughter and a son; and four grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Brushy Creek Seniors, 2010 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650, or Open Arms Hospice, 1836 W. Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.
Howard G. Fader
Dr. Fader (Georgia '62), 82, Boca Raton, Florida, died Sept. 20, 2017. He co-owned Glen Burnie Animal Hospital in Baltimore, where he practiced small animal medicine for nearly 40 years. Dr. Fader was a member of the Maryland VMA, serving on its ethics committee. He also served on the board of the Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Catonsville, Maryland. In retirement, Dr. Fader volunteered at the Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; a son and two daughters; and eight grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Boca Raton Regional Hospital, 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486.
Jay D. Hyman
Dr. Hyman (Cornell '57), 83, Delray Beach, Florida, died Aug. 1, 2017. He was a retired small animal practitioner, known for his expertise in zoo and aquatic animal medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Hyman established a practice in New York City. His practice moved to Suffern, New York, in the mid-1970s and to Nyack, New York, in the 1980s. In later years, Dr. Hyman served as a veterinary consultant. While in practice, he worked with the New York Aquarium and Bronx Zoo and helped assist with several marine animal strandings. Dr. Hyman was a member of the team that rescued Miracle, a juvenile orca off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia, and Physty, a sperm whale off the coast of Fire Island, New York.
A founding member of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, Dr. Hyman received its special annual award in 1978 for contributions to aquatic animal medicine. In 1982, he was inducted into the Explorers Club for his work with Physty. Dr. Hyman endowed the Jay Hyman Professorship of Wildlife Health & Health Policy at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
He was a veteran of the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Hyman is survived by his wife, Anita; a daughter; and a sister. Memorials may be made to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853.
James A. Jermier
Dr. Jermier (Iowa State '52), 93, Dallas Center, Iowa, died July 27, 2017. He began his career working for the former Dappen and Barclay Veterinary Practice, a large animal practice in Brooklyn, Iowa. From 1957-1961, Dr. Jermier taught veterinary anatomy at Iowa State University. He then returned to Brooklyn as a partner in his former practice, where he worked until retirement in 1973. Dr. Jermier was a member of the Iowa VMA. He served in the Army during World War II, participating in the Battle of the Bulge, and was a member of the American Legion and Kiwanis.
Dr. Jermier is survived by his wife, Bonnie; two sons; two grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 603 Clay St., P.O. Box 27, Brooklyn, IA 52211.
William M. Lewis Sr.
Dr. Lewis (Texas A&M '52), 90, Decatur, Texas, died Aug. 23, 2017. He practiced mixed animal medicine at Decatur Veterinary Clinic for 35 years prior to retirement. During that time, Dr. Lewis also farmed and raised cattle and horses. Early in his career, he worked in Coushatta, Louisiana, for a year. Dr. Lewis was a member of the Texas VMA. He was a past chairman of the Wise County Appraisal District Board and served on the Decatur School Board for several years.
Dr. Lewis was a veteran of the Army Air Corps. His wife, Valeria; three sons and three stepchildren; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren survive him.
Michael W. Thomas
Dr. Thomas (Auburn '73), 69, Starkville, Mississippi, died Sept. 3, 2017. He was a teleradiologist with Antech Diagnostic Imaging Services since 2014. Following graduation and until 1976, Dr. Thomas served in the Army Veterinary Corps, attaining the rank of captain. He subsequently practiced mixed animal medicine in Tampa, Florida, for a few years.
After becoming a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 1986, Dr. Thomas embarked on an academic career in radiology. He taught at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine until 1991, was a faculty member at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine from 1991-2001, taught at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine from 2001-2007, and then returned to MSU, where he served as a clinical professor of diagnostic imaging in the veterinary college until 2014.
Dr. Thomas was a member of Cayman Veterinary Associates and Turks and Caicos Veterinary Associates, volunteering veterinary services in the Caribbean. He was also a member of the Mississippi VMA. Dr. Thomas is survived by his sister. Memorials may be made to Homeward Bound Project (which transports adoptable dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters in the South to no-kill shelters in the Northeast), P.O. Box 2841, Mississippi State, MS 39762, www.homewardboundofms.org, or Oktibbeha County Humane Society, P.O. Box 297, Starkville, MS 39760, www.ochsms.org/donations/.
Lawrence B. Watson
Dr. Watson (Michigan State '43), 101, Lakeland, Florida, died Sept. 6, 2017. He owned a mixed animal practice in Colon, Michigan, for 51 years. Dr. Watson was a past president of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine's alumni association and the Colon Board of Education, and a life member of the Elks.
He is survived by his wife, Janet; a son and a daughter; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Clifford S. Whitmore
Dr. Whitmore (Texas A&M '57), 83, Harrison, Arkansas, died July 5, 2017. He owned a mixed animal practice in Harrison for 30 years. Dr. Whitmore's two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren survive him.
James M. Winmill
Dr. Winmill (Guelph '54), 90, Comfort, Texas, died July 23, 2017. A small animal veterinarian, he practiced at DuPage Animal Hospital in Villa Park, Illinois, prior to retirement. In retirement, Dr. Winmill was active with the Kiwanis Club.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; a daughter and two sons; two grandchildren; and a brother.
Harold D. Witcher Jr.
Dr. Witcher (Texas A&M '52), 93, Honey Grove, Texas, died June 12, 2017. He owned a practice in Honey Grove for more than 55 years. Dr. Witcher served in the Army during World War II and received several honors, including the American Theater Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, and a Bronze Star.
He is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to Vineyard Grove Cemetery, CR 2980, Honey Grove, TX 75446.
Notifications
For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death via a toll-free phone call to 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email to newsavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax to 847-925-9329.