College's centennial

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 29, 2005 by Jan Biles Capital-Journal

College's centennial

K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine celebrates its past while building a foundation for its next 100 years

Vet: KSU expands program to meet future needs

TIMELINE

Here are some of the highlights in the history of Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine:

- 1863: Kansas State Agricultural College established.

- 1872: First agricultural lectures introduced at the college.

- 1905: Kansas State Agricultural College started offering a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine.

- 1907: First seven students received their DVM degrees from KSAC.

- 1908: Veterinary Hall, now Leasure Hall, completed.

- 1912: John William Brown, of Fort Scott, is the first African American to graduate.

- 1923: Veterinary Hospital, now Burt Hall, completed.

- 1932: Helen Richt, of South Omaha, Neb., is the first female to graduate.

- 1955: Veterinary Hospital, now Dykstra Hall, completed.

- 1959: Kansas State College renamed Kansas State University.

- 1961: Diagnostic laboratory established within Department of Pathology.

- 1962: School enters into partnership with Nigeria to establish a veterinary college at Amadu Bello University.

- 1963: School of Veterinary Medicine renamed College of Veterinary Medicine.

- 1978: Kansas Legislature designated the college as KSU Veterinary Medical Center; move into Veterinary Sciences Building, now Mosier Hall, completed.

- 1986: Veterinary Medical Teaching Building renamed Trotter Hall; a formal agreement signed with Nebraska to accept that state's students interested in veterinary medicine (the contract is now void).

- 1992: First time the majority of graduates are female.

- 1999: "A Kind Touch" statue, a memorial to Dr. Robert E. Kind, is dedicated; Clinical Sciences Building renamed Mosier Hall.

- 2000: Veterinary Sciences Building renamed Coles Hall.

- 2003: Ground-breaking ceremony for Biosecurity Research Building.

Source: Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine

By Jan Biles

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

MANHATTAN --- A century ago, Kansas State University began offering a four-year veterinary medicine program to men so they could learn how to take care of the area's livestock. Two years later, seven men became the first to carry home degrees.

Since then, the university's College of Veterinary Medicine has handed out doctoral degrees to about 6,000 students. Today's graduating class is 75 percent female, and the graduates are prepared to care for all non-human animals, not just swine, cattle and sheep.

The veterinary program continues to offer classes in anatomy, physiology, diseases and pharmacology, but has expanded to include programs in biosecurity, public health, research and food safety.

"We're helping build a strong foundation for the future," said Dr. Ronnie Elmore, associate dean for academic affairs and admissions.

The K-State College of Veterinary Medicine --- the sixth-oldest veterinary medicine college in the United States --- is marking its centennial during the 67th Annual Conference for Veterinarians June 5-8 in the K-State Student Union. The educational conference will draw participants from throughout the nation.

The college's century mark also is being honored with a 288-page book, "A Century of Excellence," by Dr. Howard Erickson, professor of physiology, and Elmore. Erickson earned his DVM degree from K- State in 1959. Elmore went to veterinary school in Illinois.

"(The book's) been a concentrated effort for two or three years," Erickson said. "It actually started 10 years ago when the dean said we needed to document our history better."

Looking to the past

Kansas State Agricultural College was established in 1863, and lectures in veterinary medicine began in 1872, Erickson said. The four-year degree curriculum was established in 1905.

Early classes were in the Farm Machinery Hall, a wood-frame building constructed in 1873, according to an article in K-Stater, the K-State Alumni Association's magazine. Today's classes are in the Veterinary Medical Complex, which includes Coles, Trotter and Mosier halls, on the northern edge of the campus.

All of the veterinary medicine graduates were white and male during the college's first seven years. That began to change in 1912 when John William Brown, an African American from Fort Scott, received his degree.

Brown set up a veterinary practice in Fort Scott, served in the Army's veterinary corps during World War I, became an instructor at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and had a successful career in food safety.

The K-State college has "probably had more black graduates than anywhere, except Pennsylvania," Erickson said.

Still, the college is focused on increasing the number of minority students in its classrooms.

"Over 90 percent of practicing veterinarians in the United States are Caucasian," Elmore said.

The first female graduate was Helen Richt, of South Omaha, Neb. After graduating in 1932, she set up a small-animal veterinary clinic in Tulsa, Okla.

"She didn't have to take all of the large-animal classes," Elmore said, explaining that school officials believed it was inappropriate, perhaps because they believed women weren't strong enough for the tasks or should not be exposed to such things.