September 15, 2021

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Randall Jay Bickers

Dr. Bickers (Texas A&M ’90), 59, Weatherford, Texas, died June 20, 2021. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, he owned Bickers Equine Surgery and Consulting in Weatherford and had a special interest in veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bickers practiced at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Stephenville, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda; two sons; his father; and two brothers and a sister.

David M. Carlson

Dr. Carlson (Kansas State ’60), 85, Greenfield, Indiana, died June 8, 2021. A mixed animal veterinarian, he began his career in Aurora, Illinois. In 1963, Dr. Carlson took ownership of Greenfield Veterinary Clinic, where he worked for 40 years until retirement in 2003. Active in his community, he was a member of the local school board, Lions Club, and Knights of Columbus. Dr. Carlson is survived by his wife, Joyce; two sons, two daughters, and two stepsons; seven grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association; St. Louis Public Television; Greenfield Public Library; or the Greenfield Foundation for Educational Excellence may be sent c/o Shields-Bishop Funeral Home, 604 Walnut St., Greenfield, IL 62044.

Elmer G. Davis

Dr. Davis (Kansas State ’64), 88, Great Falls, Montana, died Jan. 25, 2021. Following graduation, he owned Central West Animal Clinic in Great Falls, where he practiced small animal medicine for 40 years. Dr. Davis later worked at Skyline Veterinary Clinic in Great Falls for 14 years. He was a member of the Montana VMA. Active in his community, he served on the Great Falls Public Schools Board and was a member of the Westside Kiwanis Club. Dr. Davis served in the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain. His wife, Doris; a son and a daughter; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild survive him. Memorials may be made to the Great Falls Rescue Mission, 408 2nd Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405, or Great Falls Animal Shelter, 1010 25th Ave. NE, Great Falls, MT 59404.

Gerald G. Drehmel

Dr. Drehmel (Minnesota ’55), 98, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, died April 1, 2021. Following graduation, he moved to Fall Creek, Wisconsin, where he established a mixed animal practice. Dr. Drehmel retired in 1994. Active in his community, he served on the Fall Creek School Board and was a member of the local Lions Club. Dr. Drehmel was an Army veteran of World War II. His three sons, a daughter, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Community Driven, 64 Melbourne Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414; Feed My People Food Bank, 2610 Alpine Road, Eau Claire, WI 54703; The Salvation Army, 2211 South Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI 54701; Hope Gospel Mission, 2650 Mercantile Drive, Eau Claire, WI 54703; or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 721 S. State St., Fall Creek, WI 54742.

Keith A. Dryburgh

Dr. Dryburgh (Ohio State ’07), 42, Hilliard, Ohio, died May 9, 2021. Following graduation, he worked at Annehurst Veterinary Hospital in Westerville, Ohio, for three years. Dr. Dryburgh subsequently served as an associate veterinarian at Dayton Animal Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. During that time, he earned certification in canine rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee.

From 2013-17, Dr. Dryburgh was a relief veterinarian with Lighthouse Veterinary Personnel Services in Westerville. He later served as an associate veterinarian at Cryan Veterinary Hospital in Westerville. At the time of his death, Dr. Dryburgh was associated with Peace of Mind Veterinary Relief Service in Dayton.

He is survived by his parents and a sister. Memorials may be made to Angels for Animals, 4750 S. Range Road, Canfield, OH 44406.

John Hal Hopson

Dr. Hopson (Colorado State ’59), 87, Silver City, New Mexico, died April 8, 2021. Following graduation, he established Deming Animal Hospital in Deming, New Mexico, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 12 years. During that time, Dr. Hopson also served for a while as state veterinarian. He subsequently moved to Silver City and established Arenas Valley Animal Clinic in Arenas Valley, New Mexico.

A past president of the New Mexico VMA, Dr. Hopson served on the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine and was New Mexico’s alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates for several years. He also served on the board of directors of the High Desert Humane Society and the Gila Regional Medical Center. Dr. Hopson established the Dr. J. Hal and Florence Hopson Endowed Scholarship at New Mexico State University to benefit students furthering their studies in animal sciences who have aspirations to attend veterinary school.

In 1998, he was named Silver City Citizen of the Year. In 2015, New Mexico State University honored Dr. Hopson with the Spirit of Service Award. He is survived by two sons, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a sister. Memorials may be made to Cowboys for Cancer Research, P.O. Box 202, Dona Ana, NM 88032.

Erwin M. Kohler

Dr. Kohler (Ohio State ’55), 90, Wooster, Ohio, died June 12, 2021. He was a professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine and a past assistant dean at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Following graduation, Dr. Kohler practiced in Winchester, Virginia. He subsequently returned to Ohio State, where he earned his doctorate in microbiology in 1965. Dr. Kohler then joined the Food Animal Health Research Program at Ohio State’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, heading the program for 16 years. He also conducted research on porcine and bovine diseases and helped develop the center’s gnotobiology laboratory. The new FAHRP building was built during Dr. Kohler’s tenure. He retired in 1992.

Dr. Kohler was a life member and a past secretary-treasurer of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, whose 1994 conference was dedicated to him. He received several other honors, including the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Howard Dunne Memorial Award in 1978 and a Distinguished Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992.

Active in his community, Dr. Kohler was a past president of the Wooster Noon Lions Club and was recently honored with a Melvin Jones Fellowship for his service. He also served as a volunteer with the medical alert program of the Wooster Community Hospital Auxiliary. Dr. Kohler is survived by a son, a daughter, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister.

William M. Miller

Dr. Miller (Ohio State ’76), 70, Kenton, Ohio, died June 18, 2021. He owned Diamond-M Veterinary Clinic in Kenton for 25 years. Dr. Miller also served as an adjunct instructor of large animal medicine and pharmacology at Brown Mackie College in Findlay, Ohio. He retired from veterinary medicine in 2001. Dr. Miller later served as an independent contractor for IntraVet practice management software; owned Riverhill Management, guiding veterinary practice owners and managers in the principles of veterinary business management; and owned Arlington Hardware.

He was a life member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association and an honorary life member of the Ohio VMA. Dr. Miller’s two sons, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a brother and a sister survive him.

Jack W. Peterson

Dr. Peterson (Oklahoma State ’58), 86, Bricelyn, Minnesota, died Feb. 7, 2021. A mixed animal veterinarian, he began his career in Kiron, Iowa. In 1960, Dr. Peterson moved to Bricelyn, where he practiced until retirement in 2018. A member of the Minnesota VMA, he was also a member of the Minnesota Quarter Horse Association, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Midwest Fjord Horse Club, and Gideons International. Dr. Peterson is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons and two daughters; seven grandchildren; and a sister.

Billy H. Wingfield

Dr. Wingfield (Georgia ’58), 95, North Dinwiddie, Virginia, died May 19, 2021. Following graduation, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for two years. Dr. Wingfield then served 24 years as a partner at Petersburg Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Petersburg, Virginia, retiring in 1984. He subsequently worked part time for six years at Banfield Pet Hospital in Virginia at Midlothian and Richmond.

Dr. Wingfield was a member of the Virginia VMA. He was also a more than 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, was active with the Gerow Ruritan Club and the Chippoax Hunt Club, and was a charter member of the Wingfield Family Society. Dr. Wingfield served in the Army Air Force during World War II, attaining the rank of second lieutenant. His wife, Emma Wray; a son and two daughters; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him.