AVMA News

In Memory – September 26, 2024

Member status key:

AVMA member | AVMA honor roll member | Nonmember

John R. Conley

Dr. Conley (Iowa State ’55), 92, Merrill, Iowa, died August 7, 2024. Following graduation, he served in the Army Veterinary Corps. Dr. Conley subsequently joined a practice in Coin, Iowa. In 1961, he moved to Le Mars, Iowa, where he established a practice, focusing on food animal medicine. Dr. Conley provided fertility evaluation for bulls, boars, and rams, and was active in efforts to eradicate tuberculosis, brucellosis, hog cholera, and pseudorabies in Iowa. He also volunteered his services as the veterinarian for the Plymouth County Fair for 52 years, taking care of the fair’s Belgian draft horses and creating a draft horse exhibit at the fair.

A member of the Iowa VMA (IVMA), Dr. Conley served on the IVMA executive board for several years. He was a past president of the Merrill Lions Club and was active with the Boy Scouts of America, Le Mars Community School District School Board, and American Legion. Dr. Conley’s wife, Barbara; five sons and a daughter; 17 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Wet Nose Rescue, P.O. Box 454, 1331 Hawkeye Ave. SW, Le Mars, IA 51031, or Merrill Fire & Rescue, 500 Roosevelt St., Merrill, IA 51038.

Donald R. Howard

Dr. Howard (Michigan State ’65), 84, Wilmington, North Carolina, died May 7, 2024. Prior to retirement, he served as associate dean and director of academic affairs at North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, which he helped establish. Earlier in his career, Dr. Howard was an associate professor of surgery and associate dean at Michigan State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, he served the college as president and chair of the board of regents. In 1994, MSU’s veterinary college named Dr. Howard a Distinguished Alumnus. That same year, the North Carolina VMA honored him with the Martin Litwack Award for his efforts in establishing the veterinary college at NCSU. Dr. Howard is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn; two sons; two grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, 14600 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513.

Samuel W. Jameson

Dr. Jameson (Missouri ’67), 82, McFall, Missouri, died August 3, 2024. Following graduation, he served as a captain in the Army during the Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star. Dr. Jameson subsequently established a practice in Albany, Missouri, where he practiced primarily large animal medicine for almost 30 years. He then worked as a district veterinarian for the Missouri Department of Agriculture in Cameron until retirement in 2017. Dr. Jameson is survived by two sons, three grandchildren, and two sisters. Memorials may be made to the Mount Zion Cemetery, c/o Ann Hogue, 4159 570th Road, Albany, MO 64402.

Abdul R. Kazam

Dr. Kazam, 84, Vineland, New Jersey, died May 31, 2024. He was a 1962 graduate of the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Kazam is survived by his family.

Harold Glen Meiner

Dr. Meiner (Illinois ’59), 88, Pontiac, Illinois, died August 27, 2024. Following graduation, he joined Pontiac Veterinary Hospital. From 1962-64, Dr. Meiner served in the Army, attaining the rank of captain. He then returned to his veterinary practice. Dr. Meiner is survived by his wife, Dolores; two sons and a daughter; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Calvin Moon

Dr. Moon (Pennsylvania ’52), 100, North Hanover, New Jersey, died September 5, 2024. He began his career at Wood Veterinary Hospital in Trenton, New Jersey. Dr. Moon subsequently founded Hamilton Veterinary Hospital in Hamilton, New Jersey. He later helped establish Columbus Central Veterinary Hospital in Columbus, New Jersey, where he served 20 years as the medical director.

Dr. Moon was a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. A Navy veteran of World War II, he received two New Jersey Distinguished Service medals, the state’s highest military honor, for his service. Active in his community, Dr. Moon served on the Northern Burlington Regional Schools Board of Education and was a scoutmaster with the Burlington County Boy Scouts of America. He was also a past president of the Bordentown Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow. Dr. Moon served as base commander of the New Jersey South Submarine Veterans.

His wife, June Ann; three daughters and a son; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister survive him. One daughter, Dr. Mary Moon-Kandebo (Pennsylvania ’83), is also a veterinarian. Memorials may be made to The Carter Center, One Copenhill, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, or the U.S. Naval Institute, Beach Hall, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402.

Bronson K. Springstead

Dr. Springstead (Colorado State ’67), 88, Jarales, New Mexico, died June 14, 2024. An equine veterinarian, he owned Zia Equine Center in Alburquerque, New Mexico, for more than 30 years. Dr. Springstead was known for his contributions to equine medical care, including the development of surgical techniques and equipment for arthroscopic procedures. He was a veteran of the Navy. Dr. Springstead’s wife, Karen; a son and a daughter; four grandchildren; and a brother survive him.

Paul T. Wise

Dr. Wise (Colorado State ’50), 105, Magalia, California, died August 8, 2024. Following graduation, he served as an associate veterinarian at Santa Ana Veterinary Hospital in Santa Ana, California. In 1957, Dr. Wise founded Grand Avenue Pet Hospital in Santa Ana, practicing there until 1976. In semi-retirement, he went on to work part time at Evers Veterinary Clinic in Chico, California, where he ran the vaccination clinics. Dr. Wise retired at the age of 102.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, he served as secretary-treasurer of the North Valley VMA for more than 40 years. Dr. Wise is survived by his family.


Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the AVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email at newsatavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax at 847-925-9329. For an obituary to be published, AVMA News must be notified within six months of the date of death.