Vet Cetera magazine 2015

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING
Lurinda Burge
Research specialist,
Department of Veterinary
Pathobiology
Burge earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kansas
Wesleyan University and a master’s in zoology from Oklahoma
State University. She has been working for Dr. Robert
Fulton in his laboratory for the past 33 years.
“He’s been a great supervisor — so easy to get along with
and always listens to my suggestions,” Burge says. “He gives
me lots of credit for the lab’s success. I will miss him as my
supervisor and as a friend. I’ve also enjoyed working with
so many other people including numerous faculty, staff, students,
and my husband, Jim Lish.”
Burge hopes to be remembered for trying to do a good
job and getting along with people.
She plans to spend some quality time at home, enjoying
their 20 acres in the country where she can garden, read,
watch birds and hike.
Robert Fulton
DVM, Ph.D., DACM, Regents Professor and McCasland Foundation Endowed Chair
for Food Animal Research, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Dr. Fulton earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma
State University in 1966 and his Ph.D. in 1975
from the University of Missouri-Columbia in microbiology.
He joined the veterinary center in 1982 and
served as a department head for 15 years.
He is thankful for the “dedication, honesty and commitment
for excellence in the laboratory” of Lurinda
Burge, his research technologist for 33 years who is also
retiring. A grant from the Noble Foundation in 1999
with Dr. Anthony Confer allowed the bovine respiratory
disease program to prosper, permitting significant
advancements in bovine viruses and vaccinology. “We
developed a national and international reputation for
OSU in cattle disease research,” he says.
Most recently, he received the 2015 Academy of
Veterinary Consultants Outstanding Service Award
for his contributions to the Academy of Veterinary
Consultants and to the beef industry.
While he has many accomplishments, these rank among the top:
• Being recognized outside the university for publications on bovine viral diarrhea
viruses, bovine coronaviruses and other respiratory viruses.
• Receiving the 2015 Outstanding Service Award from the Academy of Veterinary
Consultants and Merck Animal Health.
• Being appointed as Regents Professor and McCasland Foundation Endowed Chair.
He hopes to be remembered for the support
he gave to new department faculty as
they started their careers and that his team’s
contributions to bovine viral research will be
worthwhile to others.
As he retires, Fulton and his wife, Arlene,
who has supported him throughout his career,
will be moving to Broken Arrow, Okla., to be
near their two children, their spouses and the
couple’s five grandchildren.
His advice to new faculty:
“Be a good writer, and document your
scholarship for advancement in academia.
Prioritize your time for scholarship as you
will be known for it over most all other
activities. Be your own advocate. Know
your limitations, and maintain integrity.
Remember what you want on your ‘academic
tombstone.’”
CONTINUES
2015 Oklahoma State University 51