2013 PVM Report - Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine

In Memory
Dr. Anthony M. Gallina
Dr. Gallina, who taught pathology to numerous veterinary
students and graduate students at several veterinary schools,
including the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine,
passed away at his home in Panama City, Fla., April 1, 2012. Dr.
Gallina served on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty in the
mid-1970s, and was the major professor for Dr. Leon Thacker
(PU DVM ’65), Purdue professor emeritus of comparative
pathobiology, when he was a veterinary pathology graduate
student. Dr. Gallina left Purdue in 1976 to become the director of
the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, a position
he held until 1992.
Dr. Ronald Denver Davis, (PU
DVM ‘68) Colonel, VC, USAR
(Retired)
Dr. Davis died April 30, 2012 at his
home in Ocala, Fla. He was 67. A
native of Oakland, Calif., Dr. Davis
served more than 40 years with
the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.
His dedication is reflected in his
volunteering for thirteen months active duty preceding and post
Operation Desert Shield/Storm as a USAR Coordinator for the
VETCOM Commander. His recognitions and achievements
include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal,
Army Commendation Medal, and the Humanitarian Service
Medal. He was also a retired pilot for DHL. While his passion was
flying, he also was an accomplished, self-taught pianist.
Mr. Leon E. Gerber
The founder of Pet Rest, Inc., and a long-time supporter of the
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mr. Gerber,
of Warren, Ind., passed away October 14, 2012. He was 69.
Described as a “gentleman farmer” from Wells County, Indiana,
Mr. Gerber founded Pet Rest, Inc., near Ossian, Ind., in 1984
and built it into the largest pet cremation firm and cemetery in
Indiana. In 1997 he sold it to three nephews and a niece, but
continued to be involved as a mentor and friend to the secondgeneration
family owners.
Dr. Bret Wittmer (PU DVM ’88)
A native of Evansville, Ind., Dr. Wittmer worked as a research
veterinarian in private industry before earning a medical degree
at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1998. He started
a solo family medicine practice. He later opened his own office
space that housed Commonwealth Biomedical Research and
the Center for Integrative Medicine. In addition to practicing
traditional family medicine, Dr. Wittmer also was involved
with clinical research studies, alternative medical therapies and
acupuncture. He passed away in May, 2012.
Faye Wood Allen
The wife of the late Al Allen, who was the founding director of the
College of Veterinary Medicine’s Medical Illustration Unit, Mrs.
Allen died July 22, 2012 after a long illness. Mrs. Allen and her
husband were both graduates of the University of Alabama and
moved to West Lafayette, Ind., in 1959, the year when the College
admitted its first class of veterinary students. Al Allen served on
the College’s faculty until he retired in 1993. Mrs. Allen was an
elementary art teacher and taught in the West Lafayette School
Corporation. Mrs. Allen moved to Oregon to be closer to her son’s
family.
Mrs. Nancy Runnels
The wife of Purdue Veterinary Medicine Emeritus Professor Lewis
Runnels, and mother of PVM alumnus Paul Runnels (PU DVM
’78), Mrs. Runnels died August 16, 2012 at Westminster Health
Care in West Lafayette. She was 86. The Runnels family moved
to West Lafayette in 1969 when Dr. Runnels was appointed as
a faculty member in what was then the Department of Large
Animal Clinics.
Dr. James B. Morrison
A Purdue Veterinary Medicine MIIT staff member, Dr. Morrison
passed away August 16, 2012 after a long battle with cancer.
He was 73. Dr. Morrison joined the PVM staff in 1987 and led
the development of the College’s computer group. He wrote a
complex computer program to schedule fourth-year rotations
and then rewrote this program to accommodate three-week
blocks. A Purdue mathematics graduate, Dr. Morrison worked as
a newspaper reporter in Fort Wayne before moving to Lafayette,
where he began his 35-year Purdue career in the College of
Agriculture.
15
Dr. R. Leland West (PU MS ‘72)
Dr. West passed away on June 9, 2012
at the age of 97. Dr. West received
his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
degree from Iowa State University
and later received his Master of
Veterinary Anatomy from Purdue
University in 1972. He subsequently
accepted a position with the
American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) as assistant
director of scientific activities.
To view the Report
digitally, go to:
www.vet.purdue.edu/pvmreport