January 01, 2021
Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
Thomas C. Black
Dr. Black (Ohio State ’73), 74, Columbus, North Carolina, died July 31, 2020. Following graduation, he practiced in Indianapolis and in Middleburg, Virginia, before moving in the late 1970s to Tryon, North Carolina, where he owned an equine practice until retirement. Dr. Black also owned Three Springs Tack Repair, a tack repair and custom leatherwork business, which he continued with in retirement. An avid horseman, he showed jumpers throughout the Midwest in the 1960s. Dr. Black’s wife, Janet; four children; two grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to Foothills Humane Society, P.O. Box 985, Columbus, NC 28722, or Danny & Ron’s Rescue, P.O. Box 604, Camden, SC 29021.
Wilbur H. Crago
Dr. Crago (Ohio State ’46), 96, Poland, Ohio, died May 11, 2020. Following graduation, he practiced large animal medicine in Kinsman, Ohio, for two years. Dr. Crago subsequently joined late brothers Drs. Glen Crago and Charles Crago at Crago Veterinary Clinic in Youngstown, Ohio, retiring in 1999.
Dr. Wilbur Crago was a member of the Ohio VMA. He received the American Animal Hospital Association’s Charles E. Bild Practitioner of the Year Award in 1977 and was named AAHA Region 3’s Outstanding Practitioner of the Year for 1976-77. He was a veteran of the Army, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Crago was a member of the Kinsman Masonic Lodge and Sebring Salvation Army.
He is survived by his wife, Nada; two sons and three daughters; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Other veterinarians in the family include late brother Dr. Vern Crago and nephew Dr. Tom Crago (Ohio State ’71). Memorials may be made to the Oaks Foundation, 715 S. Johnson Road, Sebring, OH 44672.
Ronald B. Johnson
Dr. Johnson (Auburn ’03), 44, Bonifay, Florida, died July 20, 2020. He owned Dixieland Veterinary Services in Bonifay, where he practiced primarily small animal medicine. Dr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Jennifer Cloud; a son, a daughter, a stepson, and a stepdaughter; his parents; and a brother and a sister. Memorials toward Holmes County High School Ag Farm or Holmes County High School Drama Department may be sent to 105 Blue Devil Drive, Bonifay, FL 32425.
Eugene R. Leverett
Dr. Leverett (Ohio State ’60), 86, Limon, Colorado, died May 7, 2020. A diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, he owned a mixed animal practice, serving the eastern plains of Colorado prior to retirement in 2012. Dr. Leverett was a veteran of the Navy. His wife, Ruth; five children; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Indian School, 1301 N. Main St., Chamberlain, SD 57325.
Elgie E. Nissen
Dr. Nissen (Auburn ’53), 93, Marion, South Carolina, died July 6, 2020. Following graduation, he practiced in Bennettsville, South Carolina, for two years. Dr. Nissen then moved to Marion, where he owned Marion Animal Hospital for 56 years. He was a past president of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, a past chair of the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and a member of the American Animal Hospital Association and Pee Dee VMA. In 1986, Dr. Nissen was named South Carolina Veterinarian of the Year. In 2007, he received the SCAV Lifetime Achievement Award.
Active in his community, he served on the board of directors of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Marion County. Dr. Nissen was a member of the Marion Rotary Club and Ducks Unlimited. He served in the Navy for four years. Dr. Nissen is survived by two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Marion Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 186, Marion, SC 29571.
James M. Weaver
Dr. Weaver (Ohio State ’18), 34, Columbus, Ohio, died July 13, 2020. He had most recently completed a radiology internship at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to that, Dr. Weaver worked at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas in Raleigh, North Carolina, focusing on small animals. He is survived by his parents and a brother. Memorials may be made to Furever Friends Animal Rescue, c/o Capeside Animal Hospital, 58 Waterford Business Center Way, Belville, NC 28451, or Not One More Vet.