In Memoriam

’43 Benjamin Wofford Dawsey, DVM, 97, of Gastonia, N.C., died March 31, 2019. Upon graduation, he founded the Gaston Veterinary Hospital. Dawsey was appointed by three different governors to serve on the N.C. State Board of Health, which he did for 20 years. He was instrumental in helping to establish the N.C. State Veterinary School of Medicine in Raleigh, N.C. Dawsey is survived by his second wife, Hilda; a son and daughter; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

‘47 Richard Milton Lasday, DVM, 95, of Maplewood, N.J., died Feb. 24, 2019. He grew up on Long Island and Bayside, N.Y., and attended Cornell University before Auburn. He moved to Washington, where he established his veterinary practice. In 1996, he moved to West Orange, N.J., to be closer to family, but continued doing part-time veterinary work until age 85. He is survived by two daughters; one son; five grandchildren; and extended family.

’49 Horace E. Caton, DVM, 96, of Tallahassee, Fla., died May 6, 2019. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 where he flew a P-51 Mustang in WWII. After his military service, he attended Auburn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he moved to Orlando and established a large animal practice. He met Betty, the love of his life, in Orlando and they were married in 1950. In 1957, he established Underhill Animal Hospital which was the fourth small animal hospital in Central Florida. He practiced small animal medicine until he retired in 1986. He was a founding member of the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida. He was an active member of the Methodist Church. He enjoyed playing golf, fishing, growing orchids, wood working and watching Auburn University sports. He loved his family, was married to Betty for 66 years and is survived by two children and three grandchildren.

’56 John B. Webb, DVM, 100, of Pensacola, Fla., died Jan. 23, 2019. Webb was a native of Pensacola. He graduated from Tate High School in 1937 and served in the military during World War II. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and then completed his DVM from Auburn. He practiced veterinary medicine in Pensacola for many years, primarily at the Navy Boulevard Animal Clinic. He also had a thriving large animal practice, serving most of the dairy farms in Escambia County. He is survived by four daughters; two sons; and extended family.

’56 Harry Elam Nisbett, DVM, 87, of Tullahoma, Tenn., died Feb. 4, 2019. A native of Murfreesboro, he attended the University of Tennessee before receiving his DVM. He opened his veterinary clinic in Tullahoma in 1956 and was the city’s only veterinarian until 1980. He practiced in Tullahoma for 53 years, closing his practice in 2009. Nisbett is survived by his wife, Mo; two sons; one daughter; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and extended family.

’57 Daniel Reese Farnell, Sr., DVM, 88, of Kennesaw, Ga., died Feb. 17, 2019. A native of Mobile, Ala., Farnell was a graduate of Murphy High School and studied at Spring Hill College. He served in the Army National Guard before earning his DVM and M.S. degrees from Auburn and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. His professional positions included service as chair of the Veterinary Sciences Department at Mississippi State University, director of the Department of Comparative Medicine at the University of South Alabama, and research scientist at Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Ala. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; three daughters; and extended family.

’57 David Charles Stanley, DVM, 85, of Dublin, Va., died Jan. 4, 2019. He was born in Evanston, Ill., and grew up in Fort Payne, Ala. After graduating from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, he moved to Dublin in 1957 to work at Dublin Animal Hospital. He later purchased the practice and built additional veterinary clinics in Wytheville and West Radford. He retired from practicing veterinary medicine after 47 years. He is survived by his wife, Alecia; five children; 14 grandchildren; and extended family.

’58 William Lamar “Marty” Molpus, DVM, 88, of Philadelphia, Miss., died Jan. 6, 2019. Molpus graduated from East Neshoba High School and played basketball at East Central Junior College. He served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. When he returned from service, he attended Mississippi State University and graduated from Auburn University. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for several years in Hattiesburg, Miss., before transferring to Carthage. He is survived by his wife, Mary; one son; four grand-children; and numerous nieces and nephews.

’61 Fred W. Holk, DVM, 84, of Heber Springs, Ark., died March 1, 2019. He was born in Foley, Ala., and graduated from Foley High School. Holk received his undergraduate degree and his DVM from Auburn University. Holk owned and operated the Newport Animal Clinic from 1962 until 1988. He owned and operated the Honey Grove (Texas) Animal Clinic from 1990 until 1996. After retiring from business, he was employed by the USDA as a federal food inspector. Holk is survived by his wife, Patricia; one son; two daughters; and extended family.

’62 Joseph Cletus (J.C.) Crowley, DVM, 88, of Grants Lick, Ky., died March 26, 2019. He grew up on a large dairy and tobacco farm, and following service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he attended the University of Kentucky followed by the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, he returned to his hometown to start a mixed animal veterinary practice. He began his career in veterinary medicine based on the principles of hard work, empathy, and respect for all animals and their owners. Initially, he worked out of his garage and made farm calls in a used van while his one employee, his wife Myra Jane, answered the phone and scheduled appointments in between raising their children. During his 48-year career, Crowley established himself as a stalwart of the community, friend to both animal and man alike. He is survived by his wife, Myra Jane; six children; 10 grandchildren; and two foster daughters.

’66 Richard J. “Doc” Feldmann, DVM, 77, of Crescent Springs, Ky., died March 26, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army. After earning his DVM, Feldmann opened Covington Animal Clinic, then opened a second animal hospital in 1978 in Crescent Springs, where he was awarded Animal Hospital of the Year. He was past president and member of many medical, civic and hobby organizations throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Survivors include his wife, Pat; a daughter; two sons; two grand-children; and extended family.

’69 Richard F. Hill, DVM, 65, of Wetumpka, Ala., died Nov. 25, 2018. The Montgomery native graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1965 before pursuing his DVM. Hill was a member of the Alpha Psi veterinary fraternity at Auburn and he served in the Air Force for six years. Hill practiced veterinary medicine for one year at the Oneonta (Ala.) Animal Clinic, and for 34 years at the Animal Health Center in Crestview, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Pamela; two sons; and extended family.

’79 Thomas Earl Bostick, DVM, 68, of Headland, Ala., died April 6, 2019. A native of the Tolbert Community of Henry County, Bostick graduated from Abbeville High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army, serving from 1972 to 1974 during the Vietnam War. Upon discharge from the military, he enrolled at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Bostick established the Headland Veterinary Hospital in 1979 where he practiced veterinary medicine until 1997. He is survived by his wife, Leueen; two daughters; a son; four grandchildren; and extended family.

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Remembering Robert S. Hudson

By Dwight Wolfe, DVM, MS, DACT

Robert S. Hudson, DVM, MS, Diplomate, American College of Theriogenology (ACT), died March 7, 2019, in Montgomery, Ala. Hudson was professor emeritus of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine and served 21 years (1967-1988) on the faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Born in Shawnee, Okla., in 1931, Hudson grew up in the small town of Sulfur and earned his DVM from Oklahoma State University in 1955. He worked for the Hull Dobbs Ranch in Ft. Worth, Texas, for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. While stationed in Japan, he met and married Tomi, his wife of 60 years.

Following his military discharge, he worked as ranch veterinarian with Jack Easley, DVM, for Turner Ranch in Sulfur, Okla., one of the premier Hereford ranches in the world. He and Easley were early pioneers in the emerging field of bovine artificial insemination and management of breeding disorders in bulls.

In 1959, Hudson opened a private practice in Duncan, Okla., where he remained until 1967. Seeking to enhance his skill set, he sought an opportunity to work alongside Don Walker, DVM, charter member of the Society for Study of Breeding Soundness in Bulls and Charter Diplomate in the American College of Theriogenologists. With his assignment to the Large Animal Clinic Beef Hospital Service, Hudson worked with students and clients while continuing his in-depth study of bovine reproduction. He earned his master’s degree in 1970 and became a Diplomate in the American College of Theriogenologists in 1972.

Hudson’s move to Auburn and subsequent retention as faculty member proved to be a momentous event for Auburn University. During his 21 years as a member of the faculty, he and Walker became increasingly recognized nationally as experts in management and teaching in the new field of theriogenology and the reputation of the teaching hospital among the leading institutions in the field was born.

Hudson taught more than 2,000 veterinary students in the discipline of theriogenology, jurisprudence and ethics and clinical bovine medicine. He was always a student favorite in clinics because of his remarkable patience, persistence, and professional skills. He was twice the recipient of the Norden Distinguished Teaching Award and, in 2009, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University.

Serving as clinician at Auburn’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hudson utilized his beef management and production skills along with his experience and expertise in bovine medicine, surgery and theriogenology to attract a broad clientele to the teaching hospital. Bulls from all over the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest and as far away as Montana and New York were brought to Auburn for treatment. The veterinarians trained under his watch have spread across the Southeast and the country to provide excellent service to their clientele and become leaders in their profession and communities.

As a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and a faculty member at Auburn, beginning with his first resident, Dr. Ram Purohit, Hudson mentored numerous clinical residents and graduate students in research projects involving theriogenology, reproductive surgery and bovine health and production. His influence on their careers and their lives persists today, and his legacy continues through their efforts in academia, animal health industry, private practice, and regulatory and organized veterinary medicine.

During the infancy of bovine embryo transfer, when the procedure was truly novel and thought to be somewhat impractical, he traveled to Cambridge University to acquire the necessary skills. He brought the expertise back to Auburn to share and trained and influenced many of the veterinarians who became leaders in the field as the techniques and procedures emerged to become an integral part of today’s cattle industry.

Hudson’s expertise in theriogenology was recognized nationally and internationally. He served as president of both the Society of Theriogenology and the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT), on the ACT exam committee and was a charter member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction.

He later received the Bartlett Award for lifetime achievement in theriogenology in recognition of his numerous contributions to the discipline. It will never be possible to calculate the total impact of his contributions to the development of theriogenology as one of the leading disciplines in veterinary medicine, because the nine residents and diplomates directly trained by Hudson continue to utilize the lessons he taught as they trained successive generations of diplomates. Currently, 13 theriogenologists who are products of this program are teaching numerous students and conducting research at eight universities or hold positions in private practice, regulatory medicine, extension or industry.

Hudson’s legacy continues today in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which had the largest teaching caseload among veterinary colleges in the United States in 2018. Following completion of their residencies and achieving board certification, DVMs Ram Purohit, Gatz Riddell, David McClary and Dwight Wolfe, joined by Bob Carson, ACT Diplomate (AU ’74) began the first generation of theriogenologists at Auburn. This group trained the second generation of theriogenologists at Auburn, Misty Edmondson, Julie Gard Schnuelle and Soren Rodning who remain at Auburn along with numerous others as indicated above.

Jessica Rush, assistant clinical professor, a protégé of Carson, Edmondson, Schnuelle, Herris Maxwell and Wolfe, is the third generation of Auburn theriogenologists, having completed her master of Biomedical Science degree. The influence of Bob Hudson will continue for many generations.