AVMA News

In Memory: Timothy Montgomery, dedicated AVMA volunteer leader, dies at 65

Updated August 10, 2023

Dr. Timothy Montgomery
Dr. Timothy Montgomery

Dr. Timothy Montgomery, known for his affable manner, served the AVMA in numerous roles, including a year as chair of its House Advisory Committee (HAC) in 2015. He died May 11, 2023, at the age of 65. Dr. Montgomery owned and operated Dacula Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Dacula, Georgia.

He was born on March 1, 1958, in Auburn, Georgia. Dr. Montgomery completed his undergraduate education in 1979 at the University of Georgia (UGA) and earned his veterinary degree from the university in 1983. He cared for companion animals in his community for almost 40 years.

A longtime member of the Georgia VMA (GVMA), Dr. Montgomery served as its president from 1999-2000 and was its delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) from 2007-16. He also helped rewrite the Georgia Veterinary Practice Act.

Dr. Montgomery's involvement with the AVMA included service on the AVMA HAC from 2013-16 and the AVMA Political Action Committee (PAC) board from 2018-22. He was also a member of the former AVMA Governance Performance Review Committee from 2009-15, chairing it from 2011-12.

Dr. Michael Topper, a past AVMA president and a member of Dr. Montgomery's extended family, said, "Tim was an outstanding leader in veterinary organizations and for his church and community. He epitomized the meaning of being a servant leader.

"I was fortunate enough to learn from his actions when I served with him in the House of Delegates and UGA College of Veterinary Medicine activities. He followed his mantra by always showing up to get things done and never worrying about who got credit for the accomplishments."

Active with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association, Dr. Montgomery was appointed to its board of directors in 2002, serving as its president in 2008. In 2001, the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine honored him with a Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2012, Dr. Montgomery was named Georgia VMA Veterinarian of the Year and, in 2016, the GVMA awarded him the President's Recognition Award for exceptional service to Georgia veterinarians.

Dr. Larry Corry, who practiced in the same county as Dr. Montgomery for more than 40 years, said, "Tim was a brilliant person with a congenial personality. He was very passionate about veterinary medicine at the local, state, and AVMA levels. The veterinary profession has benefited immensely from his contributions."

Active in his community, Dr. Montgomery held a Dacula City Council seat from 2005-12. In 2011, he was inducted into the University of Georgia's Agriculture Honors Society (AGHON) for his leadership within his community and his profession. On receiving the honor, Dr. Montgomery was quoted in a November 6, 2011, local news article, as saying, "The world is run by the people that show up. You don't have to be the smartest, the fastest, and certainly not the best looking, you simply must prepare yourself, show up, and go to work!" Words he really seemed to live by.

Dr. Montgomery is survived by his wife, Leslie; a daughter; and a sister and a brother. He was preceded in death by his son. Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 200 Vesey St., 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281, or the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602.

A version of this story appears in the July 2023 print issue of JAVMA.