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AVMA member
AVMA Honor Roll
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Andrew M. Bailey Jr.
Dr. Bailey (Auburn ’60), 90, McCarley, Mississippi, died on October 30, 2020. Upon graduation, he joined his father, Dr. Andrew M. Bailey Sr., at the practice in Winona, Mississippi. In 1975, Dr. Bailey worked as a federal veterinarian in Aliceville, Alabama. He later rejoined the family’s veterinary practice in Winona. Dr. Bailey was a member of the Mississippi VMA. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Dr. Bailey is survived by his wife, Nita; a daughter and a son; five grandchildren; and a brother. Monuments may be directed to Winona Christian School, 1014 S. Applegate St., Winona, MS 38967, or The Salvation Army, 1400 10th St., Sarasota, FL 34236.
Michael K. Eberle
Dr. Eberle, Iowa State ’80, 73, Des Moines, Iowa, died September 14, 2020. Before retiring in 2017, he chaired Eberle Animal Hospital, a small animal practice on the Des Moines Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine for nine years of the Board for four years; was a member of the Iowa VMA and past chairman of the legislative committee; and was a past president of the Des Moines VMA. He served as president of the Iowa Animal Rescue League board of directors for nine years, founded the annual fundraiser for Iowa Dog Jog, and led the fundraiser for the construction of Iowa’s first central facility. Dr. Eberle was active in his community and was a past president of Friends of Des Moines Parks. He founded the annual Fore the Parks fundraiser. In 2017, he was named Volunteer Friend of the Year by the Des Moines Department of Parks and Recreation.
Dr. Eberle was an army veteran. He is survived by his wife Paula, two brothers and two sisters. Monuments may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, 5452 NE 22nd St., Des Moines, IA 50313; Friends of Des Moines Parks, 1551 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50317; Companion Animal Fund, Iowa State University Veterinary College, Ames, IA 50011; Broadlawns Medical Center, 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314; or Iowa Public Broadcasting Service, 6450 Corporate Drive, PO Box 6450, Johnston, IA 50131.
James L. Ehler
Dr. Ehler (Ohio State ’67), 85, of Bridgewater, Vermont, died on August 10, 2020. He owned a small animal practice in Hightstown, New Jersey before retiring in 1988. During this time, Dr. Ehler also has a horse boarding house. At the beginning of his career he worked briefly for Squibb Corp. in New Jersey. Dr. Ehler was an army veteran. He is survived by two daughters, two sons and five grandchildren. Monuments can be addressed to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406.
Robert K. Maynard
Dr. Maynard (Michigan State ’79), 67, Spring Hill, Florida, died on September 13, 2020. After graduating, he was in the large animal practice in Michigan. Dr. Maynard went on to practice small animal medicine at Adkins 301 Pet Hospital in Zephyrhills, Florida, and you have an inexpensive pet clinic for friends in Mascotte, Florida. During his career, he also served as an assistant veterinarian and provided emergency animal services in Hawaii. Dr. Maynard is survived by his wife, Wendy; a son, stepson, and stepdaughter; three grandchildren; his mother; and two sisters. Memorials may be directed to the Florida Restoration Center, a nonprofit that supports previously incarcerated women, and sent to 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL 34614, trcfl.com.
Robert E. Okin Jr.
Dr. Okin (Auburn ’73), 71, Columbiana, Alabama, died on October 25, 2020. His most recent practice as a small animal veterinarian was at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic in Gardendale, Alabama and the Forestdale Veterinary Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. At the beginning of his career, Dr. Okin the Valleydale Animal Clinic in Birmingham for more than 30 years. A diplomat on the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, he served as President of Jefferson County VMA from 1981 to 1985. Dr. Okin is survived by a son, daughter, three grandchildren, and a sister. Memorials may be made at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; American Cancer Society, 1100 Ireland Way, Suite 300, Birmingham, AL 35205; or Shelby County Humane Society, 381 McDow Road, Columbiana, AL 35051.
John W. Paul
Dr. Paul (Ohio State ’72), 86, Canandaigua, New York, died on October 29, 2020. Before retiring in 1998, he worked for the Hoechst Roussel veterinarian in Somerville, New Jersey. During his career, Dr. Paul Development of Panacur and Regu-Mate for use in horses. He was a past president of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics and a past treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Dr. Paul served in his community and served on the board of directors of the Ontario County Historical Society at Canandaigua, a member of the Canandaigua Scientific Association, and founded the Finger Lakes Parkinson’s Support Group. He was an army veteran. Dr. Paul’s wife Patricia; a son; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson survived. Memorials may be directed to the Finger Lakes Parkinson Support Group, PO Box 131, Canandaigua, NY 14424, or the First Congregational Church, 58 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424.
Rossana Perez-Freytes
Dr. Perez-Freytes (Wisconsin ’10), 37, Davenport, Florida, died on July 31, 2020. A diplomat on the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, she was an internist and physician and internship director with Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven, Florida. At the beginning of her career, Dr. Perez-Freytes Associate Veterinarian at Prestonwood Animal Clinic in Houston and has served as an assistant veterinarian in the Spring and The Woodlands areas of Texas. She is survived by her parents, a sister and a brother. Monuments may be directed to the Rossana Perez-Freytes Memorial Scholarship Fund, Attn: Heidi Kramer, Senior Director of Development, University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, 1848 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726.
Gary A. Ponder
Dr. Ponder (Louisiana State ’85), 68, Flippin, Arkansas, died on November 11, 2020. After graduating, he practiced in Russellville, Arkansas. Subsequently, Dr. Ponder, the White River Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Flippin. His wife Toni; two sons and a daughter; and a sister survives him. Monuments for a preventive discretionary fund in memory of Dr. Gary Ponder can be sent to the Arkansas State University Foundation, PO Box 1990, State University, AR 72467. Monuments may also be directed to the Ozarks Hospice, 701 Burnett Drive, Mountain, Home, AR 72653, or Shelter with a Heart, 657 AR-202, Yellville, AR 72687.
Clyde E. Taylor
Dr. Taylor (Auburn ’60), 85, Ridgeland, Mississippi, died on October 24, 2020. A diplomat with the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, he was a member of the charter faculty of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, Dr. Taylor, served as an extension vet and specialty program coordinator for the veterinary school and was assistant to the dean. He retired in the late 1990s.
Before joining the veterinary school in 1976, Dr. Taylor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and had private practice in Brandon, Mississippi. He has worked in organized veterinary medicine, was past president of the VMAs in Mississippi and Central Mississippi, and was Mississippi Deputy Delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 1996 to 2007 and Delegate from 2007 to 2009. Dr. Taylor was a member of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame and the MVMA Hall of Fame. In 1983 he received the Outstanding Teacher of Veterinary Food Hygiene Award from the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians. Dr. Taylor was named Mississippi Vet of the Year in 1992 and Extension Vet of the Year by the American Association of Extension Veterinarians in 1993. In 2007 he received the Wilford S. Bailey Distinguished Alumnus Award from Auburn University. Dr. Taylor was also a past recipient of the Dean’s Pegasus Award from Mississippi State Veterinary College.
He served 20 years in the Mississippi Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Dr. Taylor’s three children, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a sister survive him. Monuments can be donated to the Dr. Clyde E. Taylor Scholarship from the MSU Foundation, PO Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762.
Immediately report the death of a veterinarian to the JAVMA News staff at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email to newsavma [dot] org;; or by fax at 847-925-9329. In order for an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death.
