Obituaries
In Memoriam
Dr. E. Howard Acree Sr. ‘52 | Eugene Howard Acree Sr., 94, passed away March 13, 2020. He earned a DVM from Auburn in 1952 and served during World War II in the Army Air Corps as first lieutenant navigator in a B17 air rescue unit. He practiced large animal medicine in Jacksonville, Florida, throughout his career and owned Meadowmilk Dairy with his brother. Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Emily Bond Mallard, and grandson, E. Howard Acree, III. He is survived by his five children, 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two brothers.
Dr. Henry C. “Doc” Alford ‘65 | H.C. Alford Jr., 87, passed away on February 17, 2020. Born Sept. 14, 1932, in Richardsville, Kentucky, he served in the Korean War and was promoted to U.S. Army supply sergeant. After returning home, he graduated from Western Kentucky University, where he met and married Margaret Simons. He earned a DVM from Auburn in 1965, then treated large and small animals at Kentuckiana Animal Clinic and at local farms. After losing Margaret in 2008, he married Jean Vinson in 2013. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, and four siblings. He is survived by his second wife, Jean, three children, two step-children, seven grandchildren and two brothers, Ray and Frank Alford.
Dr. Michael R. Brockman ‘91 | Michael Brockman, 54, passed away March 19, 2020. He graduated from St. Xavier High School
in 1983, Murray State University in 1987 and earned his DVM from Auburn in 1991. Mike was a practicing veterinarian at John’s Pet Care Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his father, and sister, Paula Brockman Kohlenberger. He is survived by his wife, Missie Brockman; three children; his mother, Anne Brockman; and his brother, Tom.
Dr. Harold C. Davis ‘47 | Colonel Harold Clayton Davis Sr, 96, passed away on April 20, 2020. He was born on February 1, 1924, in Sylvester, Georgia, graduated from Sylvester High School in 1941 and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural Junior College in 1942. In December 1943, he entered the U.S. Army and went on to earn a DVM from API (Auburn University) in 1947. He spent one year in a veterinary practice in Memphis, Tennessee, and then opened his own veterinary practice in Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he met and married Ann Elizabeth Davis (Woods), his wife of 52 years. In early 1950, he joined the newly formed US Air Force Veterinary Corps, and pursued a master’s in public health at Johns Hopkins University. He retired from active military service in 1978. He is survived by his three children and three grandchildren.
Dr. Philip H. Davis ‘64 | Colonel Philip H. Davis, 87, passed away on March 6, 2020. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 5, 1934, and entered the U.S. Army in 1955. He retired at the rank of Colonel after 27 years of service, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. He earned his DVM from Auburn in 1964 and began his veterinary career in a variety of roles including 20 years in mixed animal practice as an industrial veterinarian specializing in avian protozoology. He retired from Pfizer Animal Health and continued to serve as a consultant in the international field, teaching practical control of parasitic diseases of poultry. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Myrtie (Tuttie) Kinsaul Davis, and daughter, Lt. Col. Mary Davis Jirsa. He is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Dr. William Corry “Dr. Bill” Fouts ‘74 | William “Dr. Bill” Corry Fouts, 71, passed away on November 17, 2019. He was born on November 28, 1947, in Atmore, Alabama, and attended Auburn University where he received a bachelor’s degree and then a DVM in 1974. After graduation, he went to Las Vegas, Nevada, to pursue his career in veterinary medicine, and later opened his own veterinary clinic where he practiced for 45 years. He moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast where he practiced at Scenic Hills Vet Hospital for 16 years until retirement. He was preceded in death by his sister, Susan, and brother, David. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, two children, two step-children, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and three siblings.
Dr. James A. France ‘58 | James Arthur France, 89, passed away on February 24, 2020. Jim was born September 19, 1930, in Princeton, Indiana. He graduated from Manatee County High School in Bradenton, Florida, before attending the University of Florida and then earning a DVM from Auburn in 1958. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He began his veterinary career in Sarasota, Florida, then moved to Lafayette County where he practiced for almost 30 years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Claire, three children, five grandchildren, one great-grandson and one sister.
Dr. Jack Delton Goodman ‘61 | Jack Delton Goodman, 89, passed away on April 2, 2020. Jack earned a DVM from Auburn in 1961 and practiced as a veterinarian for 53 years. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving from 1950-54. He was a lifelong member of the ALVMA and served as president from 1982-83. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter and five siblings. He is survived by his wife, Christine Ann, four children, three step-children, 15 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one sister, Robbie Griggs.
Dr. Lynn Allen Hanrahan ‘82 | Lynn Allen Hanrahan, 83, passed away on December. 8, 2019. Dr. Hanrahan earned a DVM from Purdue and a PhD in veterinary pathology from Auburn. He was a practicing veterinarian in Valparaiso, Indiana, for more than 10 years, and taught pathology at both Texas A&M and Auburn. He retired from teaching in 1993, when he founded Good ‘Ol Boys Family Restaurant in Auburn, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, brother, Arthur, and son, Mark. He is survived by his second wife, Carole, three children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Dr. Eldred T. “Buddy” Harding ‘57 | Eldred T. Harding, 90, passed away on February 16, 2020. Born in Fleming County, Kentucky, on January 29, 1930, Buddy founded the Fleming County Animal Hospital in 1957, where he practiced for more than 50 years. He married Ann Peters on December 27, 1952. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Buddy was a graduate of the University of Kentucky and earned his DVM from Auburn in 1957. He was preceded in death by nine siblings. He is survived by his wife, Ann, two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dr. James R. “Jim” Holladay ‘59 | James Rufus Holladay, 86, passed away on May 7, 2020. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Jim graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1952, then attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville before earning his DVM at Auburn in 1959. Jim founded Holladay Animal Hospital in 1964 in Florence, Alabama, where he practiced until retirement in 1997. He was preceded in death by his sister, Anne Holladay Knestrick. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jeanette Tiller Holladay, three children and six grandchildren.
Dr. Franklin H. Holland ‘60 | Franklin Hayes Holland, 87, passed away on March 8, 2020. Frank graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1955 and earned a DVM from Auburn in 1960. After interning in Campbellsville, Kentucky, he practiced in Leitchfield for three years before returning to his native Monroe County where he practiced for 17 years. In 1980, he was employed as a federal veterinarian with the USDA until retiring in 1998. Frank is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ella Jean (Smith) Holland, three children, nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one sister.
Dr. Thomas K. “T.K.” Jones Jr. ‘60 | Thomas Kelton Jones Jr., 85, passed away on March 30, 2020. He attended Central High School in Nashville, Peabody College, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and API (Auburn University) where he earned a DVM in 1960. On March 17, 1962, he married Kathryn Anne Ashford. T.K. practiced as a veterinarian in Franklin, Tennessee, for over 30 years before retiring in 1999. He was preceded in death by his wife and older brother. He is survived by his two daughters and six grandchildren.
Dr. Cecil B. Lowman ‘50 | Cecil B. Lowman, 98, passed away on May 6, 2020. After graduating from Irmo High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Clemson in 1943 and went to officer candidate school at Ft. Benning, Georgia, before being assigned to the 9th Army, 102nd Infantry Division in Texas. In 1944, he was transferred to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, and later to WWII combat where he was injured and awarded a Purple Heart. After his recovery and discharge from the army as a first lieutenant, Cecil earned a DVM from Auburn in 1949. He then settled in Newberry with his wife, Katie Fox Lowman, where he co-founded the Newberry Animal Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, Katie, and survived by one son and three grandchildren.
Dr. John Edward McCormack ‘60 | John Edward McCormack, 84, passed away on December 6, 2019. John was born on May 24, 1935, in Elkton, Tennessee, and married Janice Smith in December 1957. John graduated from the University of Tennessee and earned a DVM from Auburn in 1960. He returned to Auburn from private practice to earn a master’s in 1972 and a PhD in theriogenology in 1978. John served in the U.S. Army Reserves, spent the early part of his career practicing in rural Alabama and then taught veterinary students at Auburn, UGA, LSU and UC-Davis. John was a noted author who published over 200 articles, a collection of short stories and a series of novels. He was preceded in death by his sister, Frances McCormack Tankersley. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janice Smith McCormack, three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dr. Maurice C. “Mac” McNay ‘59 | Maurice Clayton McNay, 90, passed away on April 1, 2020. Mac joined the U.S. Air Force in 1949 during the Korean Conflict, rising to staff sergeant before his honorable discharge in 1952. He attended the University of Kentucky and then completed his DVM at Auburn in 1959. He shared a private practice in the early 1960s before he entered government service with the USDA. He retired from the USDA in 1984 as Deputy Director of Meat and Poultry Inspection for the Northeastern Region. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 58 years, Frances Clara McNay, and four siblings. He is survived by his second wife, Peggy Deer McNay, three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dr. Charles N. Murphy ‘58 | Charles Murphy, 89, passed away on November 26, 2019. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on August 13, 1930, graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1948 and then served in the U.S. Navy. He later earned a DVM from Auburn in 1958, while playing in the Auburn Knights Dance Band. His career began with private veterinary practice and he retired from Eli Lilly in 1990. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 41 years, Sue. He is survived by his second wife, Susann, two children, two step-children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Dr. Rudolph Ousley ‘80 | Rudolph Ousley, 66, passed away on December 14, 2019. He was born February 3, 1953, in Paintsville, Kentucky, and later married Delores Hall Ousley. He earned a DVM from Auburn in 1980 and practiced for over 39 years in Floyd County. He is survived by his wife, Delores, three step-children, six grandchildren and four siblings.
Dr. Winston Pirtle Sr. ‘67 | Henry Winston Pirtle Sr., 77, passed away on February 25, 2020. Dr. Pirtle was born in Montgomery on July 22, 1942. He was a 1960 graduate of Sidney Lanier High School, earned a DVM from Auburn in 1967 and a JD from Jones School of Law in 1995. Dr. Pirtle practiced small and large animal veterinary medicine beginning in 1967 and was a member of the Alabama State Bar Association since 1995. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth Pirtle. He is survived by his wife, Christina Renee, three children, one step-son, six grandchildren and one sister.
Dr. Jerry Clyde Spears ‘62 | Jerry C. Spears, 85, passed away on November 12, 2019. Jerry was a native of Leesburg, Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in agriculture and animal husbandry, then earned a DVM from Auburn in 1962. Jerry retired from full time veterinary practice in 1995 and returned to raising cattle in Citra, Florida. He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Gayle Geiger Spears, his sons, Randall Eric and Allen Wayne, and grandson, Tanner Douglas Spears. He is survived by his oldest son, Douglas, three granddaughters, five great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandsons and one sister.
Dr. Mary Paula Thorne ‘83 | Mary Paula Thorne, 63, passed away on December 28, 2019. In 2008, she founded All Cats and Dogs Veterinary Hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where she practiced small animal medicine with a special interest in feline medicine. Her daughter, Dr. Beth Hudson, earned a DVM from Auburn in 2014 and now practices at All Cats and Dogs Veterinary Hospital. She is survived by her husband, Dannie, two children, three siblings and her parents.
Dr. Walter L. Widdowson ‘66 | Walter Linner Widdowson, 88, passed away on May 6, 2020. He was born in Westover, Maryland, on February 27, 1932, graduated from high school in Princess Anne, Maryland, earned a BS from the University of Maryland and earned a DVM from the University of Georgia. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. He practiced veterinary medicine in Maryland before returning to Auburn to earn a master’s in small animal surgery. He then taught surgery and small animal medicine at UGA before moving to Florida for a career in private practice until retirement. He is preceded in death by his four siblings. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda Altman Widdowson, two children and three grandchildren.
Dr. Ray M. Woodson ‘65 | Ray McDonald Woodson, 80, passed away on May 30, 2020. Ray was born on April 20, 1940, in Fruitvale, Tennessee, graduated from Bells High School and earned a DVM from Auburn in 1965. He returned to Jackson, Tennessee, practicing at Jackson Animal Clinic before beginning a career as a veterinarian with the USDA in 1976 until his retirement in 2006. Ray married Margaret “Bitsy” Woodson on June 11, 1966. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bitsy, and son, Woody. Ray is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Dr. Raymond Jackson Young ‘47 | Raymond J. Young, 93, passed away on February 28, 2020. He was born on July 13, 1926, and earned a DVM from Auburn in 1947. He raised his family in Colquitt, Georgia, and later returned to Worth County. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Overstreet Webb Young, two children and four siblings. He is survived by his son, Donald, five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and his companion, Shirley Wiley.
