In Memory - May 26, 2022

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

John M. Bowen

Dr. Bowen (Georgia ’57), 88, Athens, Georgia, died March 21, 2022. Following graduation and after earning his doctorate in physiology from Cornell University, he joined Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor of physiology. Dr. Bowen subsequently served as an associate professor before moving to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where he taught pharmacology, toxicology, and neurophysiology and became a professor in 1969. In 1976, Dr. Bowen was named associate dean for research and graduate affairs and director of the newly established Veterinary Medical Experiment Station, serving in these capacities until 1997. During that time, he helped raise funds for the new Animal Health Research Center and served as chair of the center’s planning and operations committees.

Dr. Bowen was a past chair of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and AVMA Council on Research, was a past president of the Georgia VMA, and was an emeritus member of the Society for Neuroscience and Society for In Vitro Biology. In 1992, the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine named him a Distinguished Alumnus. In 1998, the veterinary college established the John M. Bowen Award for Excellence in Animal and Biomedical Research.

Dr. Bowen is survived by two sons, two grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Memorials, with the check notated to Vet Med—In Memory of Dr. Bowen, may be made to the University of Georgia Foundation, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602.

Carol D. Combs-Morris

Dr. Combs-Morris (Auburn ’82), 66, Estill, Kentucky, died Dec. 28, 2021. She owned Letcher County Outpost Animal Clinic in Isom, Kentucky. Dr. Combs-Morris previously worked at the Beaver Creek Veterinary Hospital in Martin, Kentucky. She is survived by her husband, Patrick.

Edward J. Lemos

Dr. Lemos (Pennsylvania ’57), 89, Barrington, New Hampshire, died March 16, 2022. He was the founder of Dover Veterinary Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire, where he practiced small animal medicine for more than 30 years. Dr. Lemos later established a clinic on his farm in Barrington. Early in his career, he practiced large animal medicine in Concord, New Hampshire.

From 1978-79, Dr. Lemos was president of the American Animal Hospital Association. From 1995-99, he served on what was then the AVMA Group Health and Life Insurance Trust. In 1984, the Veterinary Medical Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania honored Dr. Lemos with a Centennial Award of Merit for outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine. Active in his community, he was a past president of the Rotary Club of Dover. Dr. Lemos is survived by his wife, Marilyn; four sons and a stepson; 10 grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren; and a sister.

Tom E. Michalek

Dr. Michalek (Michigan State ’81), 66, Kalkaska, Michigan, died April 4, 2022. He co-owned Thumb Veterinary Services in Sandusky, Michigan, where he practiced primarily dairy medicine for 38 years. Dr. Michalek was also an adjunct professor at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He served on the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine and was a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Michigan and Thumb VMAs. Dr. Michalek was active with the Sanilac County 4-H Club and the Sanilac chapter of the National FFA Organization and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. His wife, Lucinda; two sons and two daughters; two grandchildren; and two brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to the Sanilac County FFA, 175 E. Aitken Road, Peck, MI 48466.

C. Peter Nelson

Dr. Nelson (Cornell ’61), 87, Harvard, Massachusetts, died Nov. 9, 2021. During his career, he practiced at Marlboro Animal Hospital in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Dr. Nelson was a past president of the Massachusetts VMA, receiving its Distinguished Service Award in 1985. He is survived by his wife, Betsy, and his family.

Dail W. Patterson Jr.

Dr. Patterson (Michigan State ’63), 84, Mason, Michigan, died Oct. 21, 2021. He owned Patterson Veterinary Hospital in Mason, where he practiced mixed animal medicine until 2015. Dr. Patterson’s daughter, son, four grandchildren, and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 5501 N. Cumberland Ave. #101, Chicago, IL 60656, or to Ele’s Place, an organization offering bereavement support services, and sent to 1145 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48915.

Mark W. Peckham

Dr. Peckham (Texas A&M ’88), 64, Houston, died Jan. 6, 2022. Following graduation, he worked at the Houston Zoo. Dr. Peckham subsequently joined Bellaire Blvd. Animal Clinic in Houston, eventually taking ownership of the practice. He was a founding member of Bellaire Ducks Unlimited in Bellaire, Texas, and supported the Coastal Conservation Association. Dr. Peckham’s son, father, sister, brother, and stepsister survive him. Memorials may be made to Bellaire Ducks Unlimited, 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire, TX 77401, or Coastal Conservation Association, 6919 Portwest Drive, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77024.

Richard E. Perkins

Dr. Perkins (Auburn ’60), 90, Abbeville, Louisiana, died Jan. 18, 2022. Following graduation, he established a practice in Abbeville. In 1965, Dr. Perkins founded Perkins Veterinary Clinic in Abbeville, where he practiced mixed animal medicine until retirement in 1996. He was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Louisiana VMA. Dr. Perkins served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He is survived by two daughters, a son, six grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren. Memorials toward the priest’s discretionary fund may be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 101 Vermillion St., Abbeville, LA 70501.

Charles L. Putnam

Dr. Putnam (Pennsylvania ’57), 89, Concord, New Hampshire, died Feb. 5, 2022. He worked for the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Putnam owned a practice in Keene, New Hampshire, and co-founded Cheshire Animal Hospital, also in Keene. He was a past president of the Keene and Concord Lions clubs. Dr. Putnam is survived by his wife, Judy; two daughters; and two sisters. Memorials may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104.

E. Kaye Smith

Dr. Smith (Kansas State ’65), 86, St. Louis, died Feb. 18, 2022. During her career, she worked for the federal government, directed laboratory animal care at Washington University in St. Louis, and directed laboratory animal resources and served as an associate professor of zoology at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Smith retired in 1999. She was a member of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners, and Humane Society of Missouri. Dr. Smith is survived by her life partner, Marge Chockley. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Missouri, Attn: Donations, 1201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110.