In Memory - March 15, 2022
Published: 10 Mar 2022
AVMA member | AVMA honor roll member | Nonmember
Timothy W. Bruns
Dr. Bruns (Wisconsin ’93), 60, Monticello, Wisconsin, died Nov. 27, 2021. Following graduation, he joined New Glarus Veterinary Service in New Glarus, Wisconsin, where he focused on large animal and dairy production medicine. In 2000, Dr. Bruns established Green Pastures Veterinary Service in Monticello, initially practicing large animal medicine and subsequently switching to small animal medicine. He later also owned Burr Oak Farm outside of Monticello. Active in his community, Dr. Bruns served as president of the Monticello School District Board of Education. His wife, Dee Dee; a daughter and four stepchildren; six grandchildren; and a sister and two brothers survive him.
Charles D. Clinkenbeard
Dr. Clinkenbeard (Kansas State ’64), 84, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, died Aug. 18, 2021. He owned Clinkenbeard Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Bartlesville, for 40 years. Dr. Clinkenbeard is survived by his wife, Carol; two daughters and a son; nine grandchildren; and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Bartlesville, 401 S. Seminole Ave., Bartlesville, OK 74003.
Wayne A. Crowell
Dr. Crowell (Colorado State ’64), 81, Athens, Georgia, died Dec. 21, 2021. Following graduation, he practiced in Glasgow, Kentucky, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. From 1966-68, Dr. Crowell served in the Army. He subsequently worked as a field research veterinarian in industry in Indiana. After earning his doctorate in veterinary pathology from the University of Georgia, Dr. Crowell embarked upon a career in academia, teaching and conducting research at Louisiana State University and the University of Georgia. During that time, he received several teaching awards, including the Student AVMA Basic Sciences Teaching Excellence Award and the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, and was named a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Georgia. Dr. Crowell was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.
His wife, Marsha; a daughter and a son; and five grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the CSU Class of 1964 Scholarship, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, or the Mary Linn Crowell Scholarship, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
Tony M. Forshey
Dr. Forshey (Ohio State ’77), 69, Hebron, Ohio, died Nov. 26, 2021. He was Ohio state veterinarian and chief of animal health at the Ohio Department of Agriculture since 2006. Following graduation, Dr. Forshey practiced primarily swine medicine for 27 years in northwest Ohio, beginning in Wauseon and later in Archbold. From 1985-2005, he was also an adjunct associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Active in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Forshey served on the board of directors of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, was a past president of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture and the North Central United States Animal Health Association, served on the AVMA Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee and on the Advisory Panel to the AVMA House of Delegates, was a past vice chair of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, and was a member of the Ohio VMA and the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials.
He received several honors, including the OVMA Meritorious Award in 1997, Ohio Pork Producers Council’s Service Award for Outstanding Service to the Ohio Swine Industry in 1998, OVMA Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2010, and an OSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Beef Industry Service Award in 2013. In 2020, Dr. Forshey was inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Council Hall of Fame. In, 2021 he received an Ohio Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award and an NIAA Meritorious Service Award.
Dr. Forshey was a past president of the Wauseon Rotary Club and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife, Jill; two sons and two daughters; six grandchildren; and 12 siblings.
Max W. John
Dr. John (Missouri ’57), 93, Vienna, Missouri, died Nov. 25, 2021. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Vienna for 40 years. Dr. John also helped establish the South Central Livestock Market in Vienna. Following retirement from his practice, he worked at the South Central Livestock Market and the MFA Feeder Pig Sale in Westphalia, Missouri.
Dr. John was a lifetime member of the Missouri VMA. Active in his community, he served on the Maries County R-1 School Board and volunteered with the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Vienna. Dr. John was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He is survived by three daughters, a son, nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and his stepgrandchildren and their families. Memorials may be made to Vienna United Methodist Church, 1102 Highway 63N, Vienna, MO 65582, or Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, 411 Coffey St., Vienna, MO 65582.
Lee P. Johnson
Dr. Johnson (Colorado State ’55), 94, Britton, South Dakota, died Jan. 5, 2022. Following graduation, he worked for a year in Groton, South Dakota. Dr. Johnson then moved to Britton, where he bought Britton Veterinary Clinic and practiced large animal medicine for almost 35 years. A member of the South Dakota VMA, he was named South Dakota Veterinarian of the Year in 1988.
Active in his community, Dr. Johnson helped establish the Britton Nursing Home and served on the Britton City Council. He was a veteran of the Army. Dr. Johnson’s two sons, two daughters, and eight grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Britton Foundation, P.O. Box 415, Britton, SD 57430.
John M. Lesslie Jr.
Dr. Lesslie (Georgia ’83), 67, Rock Hill, South Carolina, died Dec. 28, 2021. He owned Fort Mill Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Fort Mill, South Carolina, until 2019. A member of the Fort Mill Rotary Club, Dr. Lesslie was a Paul Harris Fellow. An avid marathoner, he took part in the New York City Marathon and the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon in Alaska. Dr. Lesslie’s sister and brother survive him. Memorials may be made to Neely’s Creek Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 974 Neely’s Creek Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730, or the Humane Society of York County, 8177 Regent Parkway, Fort Mill, SC 29715.
Robert M. Lofton
Dr. Lofton (Auburn ’72), 75, Opelika, Alabama, died Jan. 1, 2022. Following graduation, he worked for a year in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Lofton then established University Animal Clinic in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he practiced small animal medicine for 40 years. After retiring from practice, he served on the veterinary faculty of Auburn University for five years.
Dr. Lofton was a past president of the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine and the Louisiana and Calcasieu VMAs. He served on the board of directors of the American Animal Hospital Association and was a member of a task force that rewrote the AAHA standards for hospital accreditation. In 1999, Dr. Lofton was named Louisiana Veterinarian of the Year.
He served on the Opelika City Council and was active with the Kiwanis and Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Lofton’s wife, Lela; a son; and two brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to the Alabama Chapter of the ALS Association, 300 Cahaba Park Circle, Suite 209, Birmingham, AL 35242, or to Circles Opelika, a poverty reduction program, and sent to 2133 Executive Park Drive, Opelika, AL 36801.
Jeffrey E. Richards
Dr. Richards (Michigan State ’72), 75, St. Joseph, Michigan, died Dec. 31, 2021. He began his career at Zeeb Animal Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Richards subsequently moved to St. Joseph to work at the Freier Animal Hospital. In 1977, he established St. Joseph Veterinary Hospital.
Active in his community, Dr. Richards served on the St. Joseph City Commission for more than 37 years and was mayor of St. Joseph from 1993-95. He represented St. Joseph on the Michigan Municipal League from 1994-97 and served on the MML board of trustees. Dr. Richards is survived by his wife, Nancy; two stepsons, a stepdaughter, and an adopted son; and three grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan, 5400 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085; Therapeutic Equestrian Center, 1207 E. Galien Buchanan Road, Buchanan, MI 49107; or First Congregational Church, 2001 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, MI 49085.
Gregory R. Schmidt
Dr. Schmidt (California-Davis ’72), 74, Keswick, Virginia, died Nov. 2, 2021. Following graduation and after completing an internship in large animal surgery at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, he began working at Georgetown Equine Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Schmidt subsequently served briefly as an instructor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1978, he established Keswick Equine Clinic. In 1984, he served as an equine veterinarian at the Los Angeles Olympics. Dr. Schmidt retired in 2014.
Dr. Schmidt was a member of the Keswick Hunt Club and served on its board of directors. He was active with the foundations to preserve the estates of presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and he established a scholarship for veterinary students at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Schmidt’s brother and sister survive him. Memorials may be made to the Montanova Stables Foundation, P.O. Box 704, Keswick, VA 22947.
