In Memory – June 8, 2023

Thomas F. Antosh

Dr. Antosh (Texas A&M '68), 78, New Braunfels, Texas, died November 27, 2022. Following graduation, he served in the Army Veterinary Corps for 24 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. During that time, Dr. Antosh earned his master's in veterinary preventive medicine from the University of California-Davis and received several military honors, including the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service medals, and three Army Commendation medals. After his military career, he served as a relief veterinarian for more than 20 years.

Dr. Antosh was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. His wife, Julie; two sons, a daughter, and a stepdaughter; seven grandchildren and eight stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 936 FM 2436, La Grange, TX 78945.

Joseph J. Bailey Jr.

Dr. Bailey (Kansas State '61), 87, Centerville, Kansas, died January 2, 2023. Following graduation, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Garnett, Kansas. In later years, Dr. Bailey raised Gelbvieh cattle on his farm. He also founded an outreach group for veterinary professionals suffering from addiction and helped guide and outfit hunting trips in Colorado and Arizona. Dr. Bailey is survived by two daughters, a son, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a brother and a sister. One daughter, Dr. Janet Bailey (Kansas State '02), is also a veterinarian. Memorials may be made to Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1700 Denison Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.

Larry L. Disher

Dr. Disher (Ohio State '60), 86, Cross Village, Michigan, died December 28, 2022. From 1964 until retirement, he owned Lakeview Animal Clinic in Lakeview, Michigan, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 29 years. Dr. Disher previously worked at a mixed animal practice in Russellville, Kentucky. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Active in his community, Dr. Disher served on the Lakeview School Board and the Montcalm Community College Advisory Board. His two sons, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Lakeview Area Community Fund, Greenville Area Community Foundation, 225 N. Lafayette, Greenville, MI 48838.

Charles N. Dobbins Jr.

Dr. Dobbins (Georgia '58), 94, Athens, Georgia, died April 25, 2023. Following graduation, he served as head of the former Veterinary Extension Service at the University of Georgia for more than 30 years. During that time, Dr. Dobbins also served 14 years as associate dean of public service and outreach for the veterinary college. He retired in 1989.

A member of the Georgia VMA, Dr. Dobbins was a past co-chair of the former GVMA Legislative Action Committee. In 1969, the GVMA named him Veterinarian of the Year, and, in 2005, he received the GVMA's J.T. Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Dobbins was active with the 4-H Club. He served as a captain in the Army. Dr. Dobbins is survived by a son, a daughter, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 111 W. Lake Drive, Athens, GA 30606.

Martin E. Garcia II

Dr. Garcia (Texas A&M '63), 82, Raymondville, Texas, died November 6, 2022. Following graduation, he served in the Army, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Garcia subsequently established Raymondville Veterinary Clinic. He was a past member of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, serving as vice-president during his tenure.

Active in his community, Dr. Garcia was the veterinarian for the Raymondville High School FFA program and was a past president of the Magic Valley Electric Cooperative board of directors. He is survived by his wife, Celia; two daughters; two grandchildren; and two sisters and a brother. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 464 S. 1st St., Raymondville, TX 78580, or Saint Joseph Academy, 101 St. Joseph Drive, Brownsville, TX 78520.

Bruce L. Hull

Dr. Hull (Cornell '65), 82, Westerville, Ohio, died May 5, 2023. Following graduation, he practiced briefly in Delmar, New York, before serving as a food and dairy inspector in the Army Veterinary Corps. Dr. Hull then began his academic career as a member of the veterinary faculty of Iowa State University. In 1976, he joined The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, Dr. Hull taught food animal medicine and served as head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences' section on food animal medicine and surgery. He also served as the adviser for the Omega Tau Sigma veterinary fraternity and the student chapter of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. Dr. Hull retired as a professor emeritus in 2004.

A diplomate and a past president of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, he co-authored the textbook "Techniques in Large Animal Surgery." While at OSU, Dr. Hull received several teaching awards, including Outstanding Teacher of the Year, what is now known as the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher, Clinical Teacher of the Year, and Referral Clinician of the Year. In 2004, the AABP honored him with the Award of Excellence and, in 2008, he was named AABP Mentor of the Year. Dr. Hull received the ACVS Foundation Legends Award in 2017. In 2022, he was named an OSU Honorary Distinguished Alumnus.

Dr. Hull is survived by his wife, Dr. Margaret Mitchell Hull (Saskatchewan '73), also a veterinarian; two daughters; seven grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to the Bruce L. Hull Food Animal Student Fund #643334, Office of Advancement, Veterinary Medicine Academic Building, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210.

David S. Lowe

Dr. Lowe (Ohio State '57), 93, Beverly, Ohio, died May 3, 2023. Following graduation, he established Beverly Veterinary Service where he practiced until retirement in 2014. Dr. Lowe was a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. In 2003, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine named him a Distinguished Alumnus.

Dr. Lowe served on the Beverly Village Council and the Washington County Board of Health. He was a member of the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department for more than 60 years. During that time, Dr. Lowe served as captain and assistant chief. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. Dr. Lowe served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He is survived by a son, Dr. Phil Lowe (Ohio State '83), also a veterinarian; a daughter; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 70, Beverly, OH 45715.

Ronald J. Martens

Dr. Martens (Michigan State '65), 83, Somerville, Texas, died April 1, 2023. He was a professor emeritus at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Following graduation, Dr. Martens joined a mixed animal practice, focusing on equine medicine, in Georgetown, Kentucky. He subsequently worked as a resident veterinarian at Castleton Farm, a Standardbred horse farm, near Lexington, Kentucky. After completing an internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a fellowship in perinatal physiology at the university's School of Medicine, Dr. Martens served as an assistant professor in equine pediatrics at the university.

He then became a partner at the Maryland Equine Center in Sparks, Maryland. In 1978, Dr. Martens joined the veterinary faculty at Texas A&M University. During his tenure, he served as a professor, directed what is now known as the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, and founded the veterinary college's Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, retiring in 2007.

Known for his research on foal infectious diseases, especially Rhodococcus equi infection, Dr. Martens developed an immunotherapy procedure to help prevent or lessen the severity of the disease. He raised foals and calves of Thoroughbreds, Morgans, Arabians, Paint Horses, and Long Horn cattle, focusing in later years on improving horns and body types of Long Horns via artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Dr. Martens was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Society for Microbiology, New York Academy of Sciences, Texas Longhorn Breeders Association, and Texas VMA. He was honored for contributions throughout his career, including his accomplishments in research and his work as department head.

Dr. Martens is survived by his wife, Dr. Judy Martens (Michigan State '63), also a veterinarian; a son; two grandchildren; and two brothers. Memorials may be made to Still Creek Ranch, 6055 Hearne Road, Bryan, TX 77808; Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, P.O. Box 632, College Station, TX 77841; or Evans Scholars Foundation, One Briar Road, Golf, IL 60029.

A version of this story appears in the August 2023 print issue of JAVMA.

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