September 15, 2020

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Edward L. Anderson

Dr. Anderson (Iowa State ’53), 94, Bonsall, California, died April 14, 2020. Following graduation, he worked at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, subsequently practicing in Joliet, Illinois. Dr. Anderson then moved to California, where he worked in Bellflower. He later became a partner at Bay Cities Pet Hospital in Torrance, California. In 1973, Dr. Anderson sold his partnership at Bay Cities and moved to Fallbrook, California, establishing Circle R Animal Clinic in Escondido, California, where he practiced until retirement at the age of 75.

In retirement, he became an avid woodturner, with his artwork displayed in several homes and businesses in the San Diego area. An Army veteran of World War II, Dr. Anderson served in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Bronze Star Medal and Distinguished Service Cross. He published two memoirs on his experiences during the war, copies of which now reside at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Dr. Anderson’s wife, Nancy; five daughters; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren survive him.

Sarah A. Bingel

Dr. Bingel (Pennsylvania ’67), 77, Hendersonville, North Carolina, died May 8, 2020. Following graduation, she practiced small animal medicine in New Jersey and Philadelphia and worked for Bideawee, a rescue organization in New York City. After earning a doctorate in veterinary pathology in 1981 from Washington State University, Dr. Bingel served as a research associate and assistant professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. From 1990 until retirement in 2008, she worked as a veterinary pathologist in the Department of Comparative Medicine and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Dr. Bingel competed in agility competitions with her Border Collies and volunteered at children’s charities in Hendersonville with one of her certified therapy Collies. She also volunteered as a den leader with the Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Bingel is survived by two sons, two grandchildren, and a sister. Memorials may be made to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St. NW, P.O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090.

Garry E. Ernst

Dr. Ernst (Illinois ’73), 78, Charleston, Illinois, died May 1, 2020. A small animal practitioner, he owned Forest Park Animal Hospital in Panama City, Florida, for more than 30 years prior to retirement in 2004. Earlier, Dr. Ernst owned Ernst Animal Hospital in Panama City. In retirement, he continued to perform surgery when requested. Dr. Ernst was a past president of the Panama City Northside Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge. Dr. Ernst received an honorary doctoral degree for his contributions to the Gulf Coast State College Foundation. He was a veteran of the Army and the Air Force. Dr. Ernst’s wife, Janet; a stepdaughter; and a brother survive him.

Samuel M. Fassig

Dr. Fassig (Ohio State ’73), 72, Boise, Idaho, died Jan. 16, 2020. He was a supervisory public health veterinarian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service prior to retirement.

Following graduation, Dr. Fassig served in the Army Veterinary Corps. While stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, he assisted with the Army’s Olympic equestrian pentathlon horse team, and when posted at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, he became involved in sled dog racing and the Iditarod. Dr. Fassig eventually organized his own sled dog team and entered the Iditarod twice, finishing the race once. He retired from military service as a captain.

Dr. Fassig subsequently earned a master’s in organizational development and whole systems design from Antioch University and founded PCMR Consulting/Fassig Farms, serving as a consultant in risk management assessments, analysis, and strategic planning and establishing multiple companion, equine, and mixed veterinary practices in Washington state and Colorado. During that time, he also worked for several pharmaceutical companies, including Merial Animal Health and Schering-Plough Animal Health. In 2009, Dr. Fassig joined the USDA FSIS.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, he was a past president of the American Association of Industry Veterinarians and served on the AVMA Council on Public Health from 2018-20. Dr. Fassig was a member of the Idaho Veterinary Response Team, Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, and Academy of Veterinary Consultants. He was also a member of what is now known as the Association for Supply Chain Management and served as a training resource for the Center for Food Security and Public Health. Dr. Fassig was a benefactor of the Florida Poodle Rescue for more than 20 years and volunteered his time and services to elderly pet owners.

He authored the book “Associate’s Survival Guide” and contributed to the book “Principles and Practice of Veterinary Technology.” Dr. Fassig served as a lieutenant in the Army during the Vietnam War and was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Fassig, PhD. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St., NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037.

William E. McAda

Dr. McAda (Texas A&M ’52), 95, Yorktown, Texas, died April 27, 2020. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Yorktown Veterinary Clinic for 65 years. Dr. McAda was a member of the Texas and Golden Crescent VMAs. In 2012, the GCVMA named him one of the top five veterinarians in the Golden Crescent region of Texas. A veteran of the Army, Dr. McAda served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

He is survived by three sons, a daughter, ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a sister. Other veterinarians in his family are sons Drs. Hampton D. McAda (Texas A&M ’81) and Wesley S. McAda (Texas A&M ’86); son-in-law Dr. Michael Jacob (Texas A&M ’77); nephews Drs. Travis L. Respondek (Texas A&M ’94) and Warren W. Migura (Texas A&M ’97); and grandson and granddaughter-in-law Drs. Reagan S. McAda (Texas A&M ’20) and Leah R. McAda (Texas A&M ’20). A brother, the late Dr. Acie C. McAda (Texas A&M ’50), was also a veterinarian. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 222 N. Riedel, Yorktown, TX 78164.

David E. McMillon

Dr. McMillon (Kansas State ’80), 64, Great Bend, Kansas, died Jan. 23, 2020. Following graduation, he joined Hoisington Veterinary Hospital in Hoisington, Kansas. In 1989, Dr. McMillon bought the hospital, practicing there until retirement in 2015. He later worked part time for Downs Veterinary Clinic in Downs, Kansas. Dr. McMillon was a member of the Kansas VMA.

Active in his community, he served on the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, chairing the board of directors for several years. Dr. McMillon’s wife, Peggy; a son, a daughter, and two stepdaughters; six grandchildren; and two sisters survive him. Memorials toward the American Diabetes Association, Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City, or Clara Barton Hospital Foundation may be sent c/o Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Bobby F. Sherwood

Dr. Sherwood (Georgia ’59), 90, Elizabethton, Tennessee, died May 8, 2020. Following graduation, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Boone, North Carolina. Dr. Sherwood later served as an assistant professor of veterinary medicine at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. During that time, he also participated in the Duke University Physician Assistant Program and served as a consultant for the Research Triangle Park. From 1980 until retirement in 1989, Dr. Sherwood practiced in Durham.

A veteran of the Army Air Force, he served four years in Korea. Dr. Sherwood is survived by his wife, Frances, and a son.

Earl D. Smith

Dr. Smith (Colorado State ’44), 97, Grand Junction, Colorado, died Feb. 15, 2020. He practiced mixed animal medicine at Steamboat Springs Veterinary Hospital in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for 45 years prior to retirement. Dr. Smith co-invented the Kamar Heatmount Detector, used for bovine heat detection prior to artificial insemination. A veteran of the Army, he attained the rank of captain. Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Alex; a son and a daughter; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. His son, Dr. Kenneth L. Smith (Colorado State ’78), is a small animal veterinarian in Pueblo, Colorado, and late brothers Drs. Kenneth W. Smith (Colorado State ’32) and Edwin J. Smith (Colorado State ’38) were also veterinarians.

Robert W. Stannard

Dr. Stannard (California-Davis ’73), 72, Danville, California, died Jan. 16, 2020. He owned Adobe Pet Hospital in Livermore, California, prior to retirement in 2014. Having completed an advanced laser surgery program at the University of California-Davis in 2002, Dr. Stannard performed referral laser surgery and video otoscopy procedures throughout the state. He also took care of the Livermore Police K-9 unit for 35 years and the K-9 units from San Leandro, Fremont, and Berkeley in California.

Dr. Stannard served as a consultant and a key opinion leader for Novartis Pharmaceuticals and was a member of the company’s advisory council. He served on the board of directors of the American Heartworm Society for several years and was the society’s secretary-treasurer from 2013-16. Dr. Stannard was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, California VMA, and American Association of Feline Practitioners. In 2018, he was honored with AHS honorary membership for outstanding dedication and service to the society.

Dr. Stannard was a founding member and a past president of Montair Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for public education. He is survived by his wife, Wendelyn, and a son and a daughter. Memorials may be made to Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797.