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September 01, 2020

Obituaries

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AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member 

Nonmember

James R. Holladay

Dr. Holladay (Auburn ’59), 86, Florence, Alabama, died May 7, 2020. He owned Holladay Animal Hospital in Florence, where he initially practiced mixed animal medicine, switching later to small animals. Dr. Holladay retired in 1997. Earlier in his career, he worked in Columbus, Georgia. Dr. Holladay is survived by his wife, Jeanette; a son and two daughters; and six grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Edgemont United Methodist Church, 1330 Eauclaire Ave., Florence, AL 35630.

Cecil B. Lowman

Dr. Lowman (Auburn ’50), 97, Lexington, South Carolina, died May 6, 2020. He co-founded Newberry Animal Hospital in Newberry, South Carolina, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 35 years prior to retirement. Dr. Lowman also served as veterinarian for the Newberry County Humane Society for several years. He was a member of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians. An Army veteran of World War II, Dr. Lowman was awarded a Purple Heart. His son and three grandchildren survive him.

Patrick D. Mathis

Dr. Mathis (Texas A&M ’71), 76, New Braunfels, Texas, died Jan. 21, 2020. In 1973, he bought Comal Animal Clinic in New Braunfels, where he practiced mixed animal medicine until retirement in 2010. Earlier, Dr. Mathis practiced in Stephenville, Texas. His wife, Lee; a daughter and a son; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two brothers and four sisters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Ed Grist Memorial Veterinary Scholarship, c/o Comal County VMA, 1121 Eikel St., New Braunfels, TX 78130.

Anthony A. Matthews

Dr. Matthews (Ohio State ’73), 84, Genoa, Ohio, died April 21, 2020. He owned Village Veterinary Hospital in Genoa for more than 30 years, initially in mixed animal practice, switching later to small animals. Dr. Matthews was a member of the Toledo VMA. His wife, Marianne; eight daughters and five sons; 47 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister survive him. One daughter, Dr. Sarah Cripps (Ohio State ’95), owns a small animal practice in Schuylerville, New York. Her husband, Dr. Christopher Cripps (Ohio State ’95), is a former food animal veterinarian. Memorials may be made to Humane Society of Ottawa County, 2424 E. Sand Road, Port Clinton, OH 43452.

John T. Peters

Dr. Peters (Cornell ’62), 88, Wilmington, Delaware, died Feb. 11, 2020. A large animal practitioner, he began his career serving as a veterinarian at several racetracks, including Vernon Downs, Liberty Bell Park, and Rosecroft Raceway. Dr. Peters subsequently established his own equine practice in Wilmington, Delaware, also serving as a veterinarian for the state of Delaware at Delaware Park and Dover Downs racetracks. He retired in 2017.

A member of the Delaware VMA, Dr. Peters was named Delaware Veterinarian of the Year in 2002. He was a veteran of the Air Force, serving as a second lieutenant in Korea and Japan. Dr. Peters attained the rank of captain in the Air Force Reserve. He is survived by a son, a daughter, four grandchildren, and a sister. Memorials may be made to the Dr. John T. Peters DePauw Trust Endowed Scholarship, DePauw University, 201 E. Seminary St., P.O. Box 37, Greencastle, IN 46135, or the John T. Peters DVM 1962 Scholarship, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 130 E. Seneca St., Suite 400, Ithaca, NY 14850.

Kenneth J. Sims

Dr. Sims (Oklahoma State ’64), 81, Louisville, Kentucky, died May 22, 2020. He owned a small animal practice in Louisville for more than 50 years. During his career, Dr. Sims also practiced in Fern Creek, Kentucky, and in the Caribbean, on the Cayman and Turks and Caicos islands. He was a founding member of the Louisville Animal Emergency Center, was a member of the Kentucky VMA, and served on the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners for several years. In 1991, Dr. Sims received the KVMA Distinguished Service Award.

He was a veteran of the Army, serving as a captain. Dr. Sims is survived by his wife, Carolyn; two daughters and a son; and two sisters. Memorials toward the Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, with the memo line of the check notated in his memory, may be made to the OSU Foundation and sent to Sharon Worrell, OSU CVM, 308 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078. Memorials may also be sent to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201.

William J. Tietz

Dr. Tietz (Colorado State ’57), 93, Bozeman, Montana, died June 10, 2020. From 1977-90, he served as the ninth president of Montana State University. Widely considered a transformative president, Dr. Tietz supported the development of the undergraduate core curriculum, expanded international studies, reactivated the university’s honors program, and bolstered educational opportunities for Native Americans. He also emphasized research activities, launched the university’s Advanced Technology Park, and oversaw the funding, planning, and construction of facilities critical to the growth of the university, including the Visual Communications Building, Animal Resources Center, and Plant Growth Center. In 2007, the ARC was renamed Tietz Hall.

Following graduation and after earning a doctorate in physiology and pathology in 1961 from Purdue University, Dr. Tietz joined the veterinary faculty at Purdue as an assistant professor of veterinary physiology. In 1964, he moved to Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences as an associate professor of radiobiology and physiology. Dr. Tietz went on to serve as chair of the college’s former Department of Physiology and Biophysics, was associate director of the CSU Agricultural Experiment Station, and served as CSU’s vice president for student-university relations. In 1971, he was named dean of the veterinary college, serving in that capacity until 1977.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Tietz was a past president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, served on the Council of Presidents of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, was a life member of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, and was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the Colorado and Larimer County VMAs. He was also a past chair of the board of directors of the Montana State University Energy Research Institute and served on the board of directors of the Greater Montana Foundation. In 1977, Dr. Tietz received the CVMA Service Award.

He was a veteran of the Navy. Dr. Tietz is survived by his wife, Gwen; three daughters and a son; and six grandchildren.