Fred Palmer

2009 Outstanding Alumni
Fred A. Palmer, '69

Since graduating from Texas A&M University with his DVM in 1969, Dr. Fred A. Palmer has made several significant contributions as a veterinarian and an Aggie. He continues to serve the profession and the university as the current Chairman of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Development Council, a position he has held since 2007.

After graduating from Texas A&M in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science, Dr. Palmer started his career as a Wildlife Biologist and Assistant Project Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. His employment there was interrupted by active duty with the US Army. He then returned to Texas A&M, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Science, in 1968, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1969. Following graduation, he worked as a veterinarian in private practice, including his own small animal clinic in Bedford, Texas, which he sold in 1994. He was the owner of Simmons & Associates - Southcentral from 1994 through 1997, where he appraised and brokered veterinary practices in a four-state area.

Dr. Palmer has been active in many professional organizations throughout his career, having served as President of both the Tarrant County Veterinary Medical Association and the Texas Veterinary Medicine Association. He was a Veterinary Delegate in the US People-to-People Citizen Ambassador Program to Australia and New Zealand and an area representative to the Morris Animal Foundation of Colorado.

His service to Texas A&M University included terms as the President of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County A&M Club and President of the Association of Former Students, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the 12th Man Foundation. He also served on the Corps Development Council, the Vision 2020 Council, and currently serves as a member of both the President's Advisory Council and the Board of Ambassadors for the 12th Man Foundation.

Service to his community is also important to Dr. Palmer. He has been a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Bedford, a member of the Advisory Committee for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. He has been also active in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce, the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Rotary Club, the First Baptist Church of Euless, and the Acton Baptist Church of Granbury.

In addition to these activities, Dr. Palmer has expressed his generosity by endowing several scholarships and most recently, has established the Dr. Fred A. and Vola N. Palmer Chair in Comparative Oncology at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Palmer lives on his ranch outside Granbury, Texas where he and his wife of 43 years, Vola, enjoy whitetail deer ranching and traveling. Whenever possible, the Palmers make their way to College Station to experience Aggie sports and camaraderie. They have one son, David, Class of '92, a daughter-in-law Karen and two precious grandchildren, Ellie and Graham.