August 01, 2021

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Dan W. Brown

Dr. Brown (Missouri ’77), 70, Rolla, Missouri, died May 11, 2021. Following graduation, he began his career in mixed animal medicine in Rolla, serving the area for several decades. In 2008, Dr. Brown entered Missouri politics as a member of the state’s House of Representatives, representing the 149th district for two years. He was subsequently elected to the Missouri Senate, where he served eight years, chairing the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee during the last two years. Dr. Brown later continued to practice veterinary medicine in Rolla.

He was a life member of the Missouri VMA and a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau. Dr. Brown’s wife, Kathy; a son and a daughter; five grandchildren; and two brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to Phelps Health Delbert Day Cancer Institute, 1060 W. 10th St., Rolla, MO 65401; Greentree Christian Church, 800 Greentree Road, Rolla, MO 65401; or Rolla Animal Shelter, 1915 Sharp Road, Rolla, MO 65401.

Paul E. Fenwick

Dr. Fenwick (Auburn ’56), 93, Louisville, Kentucky, died Jan. 17, 2021. He owned Fenwick Animal Clinic in Louisville before retiring from veterinary practice and embarking on a career in real estate development. During his veterinary career, Dr. Fenwick also served as the veterinarian for Churchill Downs Racetrack and the Rock Creek Horse Show.

A past president of the Kentucky VMA, he was named Kentucky Veterinarian of the Year in 1964 and received the KVMA Distinguished Service Award in 1967. Dr. Fenwick served in the Army during the Korean War. His two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, 400 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40506, or the Father McGee Memorial Fund, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3345 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206.

Albert A. Gabel

Dr. Gabel (Ohio State ’54), 91, Dublin, Ohio, died April 12, 2021. Following graduation, he served two years in the Air Force as a public health inspector in Germany, receiving a Commendation Medal. Dr. Gabel subsequently earned his master’s in veterinary anesthesia from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and then joined the veterinary faculty. During his more than 30-year tenure, he headed the clinical equine section for 18 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1989. Dr. Gabel was known for his expertise in equine and large animal anesthesia and surgery and for his techniques in diagnosing and treating lameness in horses. In retirement, he trained and drove Standardbred racehorses for several years.

Dr. Gabel was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and was a past president of the Ohio Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association, initiating its merger with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. He was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, serving on its Racing Committee. In 1995, the United States Harness Writers Association named Dr. Gabel as Amateur Driver of the Year. In 2000, the AAEP honored him with a Distinguished Educator Award.

Dr. Gabel is survived by his wife, Lucille; four daughters and two sons; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a veterinarian brother, Dr. James Gabel (Ohio State ’55). Memorials may be made to the Holy Family Food Pantry, 57 South Grubb St., Columbus, OH 43215; St. Brigid School Endowment Fund, 7179 Avery Road, Dublin, OH 43017; or the OSU Foundation (with the memo line of checks notated to #667490, Vet Med, 1954 Scholarship), The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Attn: Tiffany Connors, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210.

Robert M. Muir

Dr. Muir (Michigan State ’52), 95, East Lansing, Michigan, died Dec. 12, 2020. He was the founder of Deckerville Veterinary Clinic in Deckerville, Michigan. Later in his career, Dr. Muir served as Michigan’s assistant state veterinarian. Active in his community, he was a member of the Deckerville Community Schools Board of Education and served on the board of directors of the Deckerville Community Hospital. Dr. Muir’s wife, Sharon; two sons, two daughters, three stepsons, and two stepdaughters; 20 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church, 5589 Van Atta Road, Haslett, MI 48840, or Michigan State University (with the memo line notated to A606–Large Animal Clinical Sciences), Michigan State University, University Advancement, Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Willard G. Nelson

Dr. Nelson (Washington State ’61), 83, Kuna, Idaho, died March 21, 2021. He served as director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture from 1990-95

Following graduation, Dr. Nelson served in the Army Veterinary Corps. During that time, he traveled to Vietnam as an adviser for a sentry dog training program for the Vietnamese Army and was veterinarian-in-charge at Fort Myer, Virginia. Dr. Nelson attained the rank of captain.

He subsequently went into private practice in Kuna for a few years. In 1966, Dr. Nelson was appointed assistant to the director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. He then worked for the former Idaho Bureau of Animal Health, where he went from serving as assistant chief to chief. From 1981-90, Dr. Nelson was state veterinarian and administrator for the ISDA’s Animal Industries Division, before becoming director of the ISDA. He was director of public affairs for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation from 1995 until retirement in 2004.

Dr. Nelson was a past president of the Idaho VMA and a member of the United States Animal Health Association, Southwestern Idaho VMA, and Western United States Agricultural Trade Association. In 1989, he was named Idaho Veterinarian of the Year. Dr. Nelson received an Outstanding Service Award from Washington State University in 2001. In 2018, Marquis Who’s Who honored him with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Active in his community, Dr. Nelson served as a councilman for the city of Kuna from 1964-68 and was mayor from 1984-2004 and again from 2011-15. He was a charter member of the Kuna Lions Club and a member of the Kuna Historical Society and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Dr. Nelson served in the Idaho Army National Guard, attaining the rank of brigadier general. He was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Dr. Nelson is survived by a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister. Memorials (with the memo line of the check notated to the Class of ‘61 Professionalism Endowment and Scholarship) may be made to the WSU Foundation, c/o Lynne Haley, P.O. Box 647010, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164.

Phillip N. Ogburn

Dr. Ogburn (Washington State ’65), 80, Bend, Oregon, died May 7, 2021. He was an associate professor of cardiology at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine prior to retirement. Dr. Ogburn also established an equine facility and Essergrief Kennels in Roberts, Wisconsin, breeding German Shorthaired Pointers. His wife, Peggy; a son and a daughter; and three grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area Chapter, 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22102.

Donald L. Singletary

Dr. Singletary (Illinois ’59), 86, East Earl, Pennsylvania, died May 6, 2021. A poultry veterinarian, he worked at the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Singletary worked for Whitmoyer Laboratories in Myerstown, Pennsylvania; Victor Weaver Poultry in New Holland, Pennsylvania; and the poultry laboratory at Pennsylvania State University. His wife, Catherine; three daughters and a son; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother survive him. Memorials may be made to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17604.

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 newsavma [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.