Obituaries

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AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Frank L. Boudinot

Dr. Boudinot (Cornell '61), 87, Richmond, Virginia, died Feb. 24, 2019. He practiced small animal medicine at Afton Animal Hospital in Williamsville, New York, prior to retirement. Dr. Boudinot was a veteran of the Army. His wife, Elaine; a son, daughter, and two stepsons; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother survive him. Memorials may be made to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 39, Ithaca, NY 14853, or Berea Baptist Church, 310 Chestnut St., Berea, KY 40403.

Willie L. Chapman Jr.

Dr. Chapman (Auburn '57), 89, Athens, Georgia, died Oct. 7, 2018. He retired in 1993 as professor emeritus of pathology from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Following graduation, Dr. Chapman established a small animal practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1963, he earned a master's degree in radiology from Colorado State University and subsequently joined the veterinary faculty of the University of Georgia as a small animal clinician in the Department of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Chapman went on to serve as a professor in the Department of Pathology and Parasitology and as head of the Department of Medicine and Surgery. During his career, he earned his doctorate in pathology and radiology from the University of Wisconsin and was appointed a special fellow at the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Chapman was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and Georgia VMA. He was also a veteran of the Army. Dr. Chapman is survived by his wife, Betty Ann; two daughters; a grandchild; and a brother.

John Garth Cummings

Dr. Cummings (Cornell '11), 35, Grand Rapids, Michigan, died Nov. 30, 2018. He practiced dairy medicine in the Grand Rapids area. Dr. Cummings is survived by his wife, Heidi; two sons; his parents; and a brother. Memorials, toward the Garth Cummings Memorial Fund to benefit his sons' education, may be sent to Grand River Bank, 4471 Wilson Ave. SW, Grandville, MI 49418.

Daniel H. Nielsen

Dr. Nielsen (Cornell '63), 78, New Berlin, New York, died Nov. 6, 2018. He practiced mixed animal medicine in New Berlin for 45 years prior to retirement in 2011. Earlier, Dr. Nielsen worked in Cherry Valley, New York, and served in the Army during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of captain.

A member of the New York State VMS, he chaired the association's Wildlife Conservation Committee and served on its Government Relations Committee. In 1995, Dr. Nielsen received a NYSVMS Merit Award for his service. He was active with the Upstate New York Killifish Association, American Killifish Association, and Central New York Aquarium Society.

Dr. Nielsen is survived by his wife, Elsa; two daughters; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Chenango Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6160 County Road 32, Norwich, NY 13815, or Tackle Kids Cancer, c/o Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, 160 Essex St., Suite 101, Lodi, NJ 07644.

Rick L. Rodgers

Dr. Rodgers (Purdue '76), 68, Knightsville, Indiana, died Oct. 12, 2018. He began his career working at Bratt Animal Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, subsequently buying the practice. In 1977, Dr. Rodgers also established Rodgers Veterinary Hospital in Knightsville, where he initially practiced mixed animal medicine, switching later to small animal practice. He served as president of the Clay County Board of Health for more than 35 years and was a member of the Indiana VMA. Dr. Rodgers' wife, Janet; three sons; and a brother survive him. Memorials, toward the In Memoriam Fund, may be sent to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Development Office, Lynn Hall Room 1177A, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907.

Wes G. Schroeder

Dr. Schroeder (Minnesota '64), 82, Minnetonka, Minnesota, died Jan. 27, 2019. Following graduation, he established an equine practice in Wayzata, Minnesota. In 1972, Dr. Schroeder co-founded Minnesota Equine Associates in Maple Plain, Minnesota, serving the area for nearly 48 years.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, he was a past president of the Minnesota VMA and founded the Minnesota Equine Practitioners Association. In 1981, the Minnesota Horse Council honored Dr. Schroeder as Horseman of the Year. He participated in endurance and competitive trail riding in the upper Midwest, mentored equine veterinary students, and taught horse health management classes in the region.

Dr. Schroeder was a veteran of the Army. He is survived by a daughter, three sons, six grandchildren, three sisters, and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Minnesota Horse Council Foundation, P.O. Box 96, Monticello, MN 55362, or Strike Zone "Striker" Memorial Equine Scholarship, University of Minnesota Foundation, 200 Oak St. SE, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

Horace A. Smith

Dr. Smith (Texas A&M '66), 83, Brenham, Texas, died Feb. 18, 2019. He practiced equine medicine in Brenham for 30 years prior to retirement. Dr. Smith subsequently served as track veterinarian for the Texas Racing Commission for 18 years. He helped formulate the strategic plan for the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences' Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and served on the college's Development Council.

A member of the Texas VMA, Dr. Smith was named Equine Practitioner of the Year in 1996. In 2006, the Texas A&M veterinary college honored him with a Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dr. Smith was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Active in his community, he was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge, and Rotary Club, and he served on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County. Dr. Smith was a veteran of the Navy.

His wife, Judy; two sons; six grandchildren; and a brother and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, 1700 E. Tom Green St., Brenham, TX 77833; Bread Partners of Washington County, 1008 Higgins St., Brenham, TX 77833; or Texas A&M Foundation for Dr. H.A. "Bud" Smith Veterinary Endowed Scholarship, Dean's Office, Mail Stop 4461, College Station, TX 77843.


Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the JAVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email at newsatavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax at 847-925-9329. For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death.