Outstanding Veterinary Alumni To Be Honored

(COLLEGE STATION, TX) - The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, will be honoring five outstanding alumni at a ceremony on April 15, 2005, at the George Bush Library Conference Center.

Brigadier General Michael B. Cates, DVM, Class of `80, is the highest-ranking veterinarian in the United States armed forces serving as Chief of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. Cates is also Commander of the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, where he oversees 1100 scientific personnel and an $80 million budget, providing leadership, direction and services in preventive medicine.

Larry M. Kornegay, DVM, Class of `71, began practicing small animal veterinary medicine in Houston, TX. Kornegay and his wife, Chris, DVM, Class of `74, founded Kornegay and Kornegay, P.C. Together, they established two free standing small animal clinics in northwest Harris County. Kornegay is a member of several state and national organizations, serving as President of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) and The Harris County Veterinary Medical Association (VMA).

Travis McGuire, DVM, an honors graduate of the Class of `65, received his PhD from Washington State University (WSU). During his 37 years as a faculty member at WSU, McGuire has brought distinction to the University through his creative scholarship, research, teaching and public service. An internationally acclaimed scholar in veterinary immunology and infectious diseases, McGuire's research findings have been included in the core information provided in textbooks worldwide and his current investigations are published in leading scientific journals. He is among the most highly quoted and recognized veterinary immunologists in the world.

John P. Toelkes, DVM, Class of `62, is recognized for establishing a very successful equine breeding program in 1978 at the 825,000 acre spread known as the King Ranch. He and his team rose to the challenge of breeding and raising nationally competitive cutting horses while achieving an eighty percent pregnancy rate. Toelkes is well-known in the equine industry because of his role in breeding two of the most influential stallions in the history of the American Quarter Horse, Mr. San Peppy and Peppy San Badger.

Michale Keeling, DVM, Class of `66, is credited with establishing one of the most successful chimpanzee breeding and rehabilitation programs in the country. For 29 years he was administrative director of M.D. Anderson's Department of Veterinary Sciences at The University of Texas in Bastrop County, Texas. Keeling's vision for housing, breeding and re-socializing chimpanzees earned him international respect. Keeling died in an automobile accident December 21, 2003. The facility that he envisioned and dedicated his life to developing, now bears his name. The Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research was dedicated on February 1, 2005.

"Each of these alumni have represented the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the veterinary medical profession with great distinction," said Dr. H. Richard Adams, Dean of Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "We are proud to recognize their accomplishments."

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718