In Memoriam

’54 William “Bill” Ward Canon, DVM, 87, of Columbus, Miss., died July 28, 2018. Growing up on a farm in Mississippi, Canon was a national 4-H Club winner and an Eagle Scout. He earned an under-graduate degree from Mississippi State University. Canon interned at the William Greene Animal Clinic in Nashville, Tenn., and practiced there for a year after graduating from Auburn. He moved to Memphis and worked with Belview Animal Clinic. In 1956, he entered the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Poultry Inspection Division. A year later, he entered active duty with the U.S. Air Force and later entered the Air Force Reserve, serving as a Lt. Colonel, Staff Officer and Liaison Officer to the Veterinary Department at Mississippi State University. In 1960, Canon became associated with E.C. Bozeman, DVM, in Columbus, Miss. Canon was active in the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association, serving as president from 1983 to 1984 and receiving the Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1989. Canon served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1976 to 1979 before being elected to the Mississippi State Senate, from which he retired in 2003. He also served on the Mississippi Prison Industries Board. He is survived by his daughters and one grandchild.

‘58 William Francis Wilford Dugger, Jr, DVM, 86, died Aug. 13, 2018. In 1967, after moving to Jupiter, Fla., Dugger opened the Jupiter/Tequesta Animal Hospital. He also was employed at the Palm Beach Kennel Club as a track veterinarian until his death, and he performed veterinary work at race tracks in Naples, Flagler and Corpus Christi. He is survived by two sons.

’58 Henry Duke Watson IV, DVM, 84, of Aberdeen, Miss., died Sept. 1, 2018. He attended Mississippi State University before graduating from Auburn with his DVM. He was a member of the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association, the Aberdeen Rotary Club and a charter member of the Aberdeen Golf and Country Club. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann, three daughters, one son, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

’64 James H. “Buddy” Yarborough III, DVM, 82, died August 25, 2018. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 1960. He was a member of local, state and national veterinary medical associations. He was co-owner of Galloway Animal Clinic in Miami, Fla., until 1997 along with his wife, Charleen Perry Yarborough, DVM, ’64. His love of salt water angling was only exceeded by his love of veterinary medicine, the pets and owners who were like family and his own family. For more than 30 years, he was a member of Miami Beach Rod & Reel Club, involved in conservation of marine and fresh water fisheries. He is survived by his wife, Charleen, a daughter and a son, and one granddaughter.

’69 Jerry B. Champion, DVM, 74, of McCalla, Ala., died Aug. 1, 2018. Champion graduated from McAdory High School and the University of Montevallo before Auburn University. He practiced veterinary medicine at Hueytown Veterinary Clinic for 48 years and was president of the National Open Shooting Dog Championship for more than 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Becky, two sons, five grand-children and extended family.

’74 Sheryl Lyn Taylor, DVM, 70, of Crockett, Va., died Aug. 18, 2018. A native of Florida, she attended the University of Florida and was the 30th woman to earn her DVM from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1974. She was a dedicated veterinarian and avid horsewoman. Throughout her life, she was not content to follow the beaten path, instead going where there was no path and leaving a trail for others to follow. She and her husband and fellow classmate, Larry Thomas Taylor, DVM, co-founded and operated Wythe County Animal Clinic in Cumberland Gap, Tenn. In addition to her husband, she is survived by eight children and 26 grandchildren.

’99 Kevin K. Kisthardt, DVM, 55, died Sept. 2, 2018, in Bryan, Texas. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, he came to Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 as a resident in large animal and earned a master’s degree in 1999. While attending Auburn, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He is remembered by Dwight Wolfe as a “cocky little guy who was popular with veterinary students and considered one of them. He overcame much during his life and taught me and many others a lot about what faith and determination can do.” He taught in California, Oregon, Texas and Alabama. Horses, music, and dancing were his loves. He impacted everyone who met him with his wit and wisdom. He is survived by his daughter, Cheyenne; his mother; two brothers; and nephews and nieces.

’05 Jennifer Anne Kaak, DVM, died Aug. 26, 2018, after a courageous 14-month battle with cancer. Her love of animals was evident at a young age and continued throughout her life. Horses were her passion; in her teen years, she competed in eventing with her beloved thoroughbred, Bush Hunter. Kaak worked at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital prior to attending Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine and returned there for an internship after earning the DVM in 2005. She loved the sport of horse racing and had the thrill of one of her horses winning a race at Keeneland in 2011. She worked as an equine veterinarian throughout her career and had a tender heart for any animal in need (any cat in need of a home seemed to find its way to her). Known for her vast knowledge of horses and gift of handling them with such ease, Kaak’s smile, sense of humor, and strength persevered through the toughest of times. Kaak is survived by her parents, Otto and Kay Kaak; a brother and sister; five nieces and nephews; and extended family, including colleagues at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.