AVMA News

In Memory – March 30, 2023

Member status key:

AVMA member | AVMA honor roll member | Nonmember

Edgar C. Buck

Dr. Buck (Ohio State ’69), 81, Willcox, Arizona, died October 23, 2022. Following graduation, he served as a captain in the Army. Dr. Buck subsequently became a partner at Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. His wife, Nancy; a son and a daughter; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren survive him.

Jay M. Humburg

Dr. Humburg (Kansas State ’57), 89, Auburn, Alabama, died February 3, 2023. He began his career in Broken Bow, Nebraska, where he practiced large animal medicine for several years. In 1967, Dr. Humburg joined a U.S. Agency for International Development project in Nigeria via Kansas State University, assisting in the establishment of a veterinary school in the country. From 1973-2000, he served as a professor of large animal surgery and medicine at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Humburg then moved to Grenada, West Indies, where he joined St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. He retired as a distinguished professor in 2015.

Dr. Humburg was a diplomate and a past president of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. His wife, Margaret; a daughter and a son; two grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to the Owen Center, a counseling ministry, and sent to 607 N. College St., Auburn, AL 36830.

Eric J. Myer

Dr. Myer (Cornell ’60), 86, Boyce, Virginia, died February 7, 2023. A large animal veterinarian with a special interest in equine medicine, he was the founder of Roseville Veterinary Clinic in Boyce. Dr. Myer also founded Plaza Pet Clinic in Winchester, Virginia. He owned Roseville Farm, breeding Thoroughbred racehorses and fox hunting horses.

Dr. Myer was a member of the Virginia VMA, American Angus Association, Clarke County Equine Alliance, and Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America. He was also active with the Boyce Volunteer Fire Co., Boy Scouts of America, 4-H Club, Kiwanis Club, Heifer International, and Clarke County Economic Development Advisory Committee.

Dr. Myer’s wife, Martha; three sons and two daughters; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Boyce Volunteer Fire Co., 7 S. Greenway Ave., Boyce, VA 22620; Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork St. Unit 405, Winchester, VA 22601; or Piedmont Fox Hounds Foundation, P.O. Box 592, Upperville, VA 20185.

William A. “Drew” Parker

Dr. Parker (Louisiana State ’09), 39, Fayetteville, Arkansas, died January 2, 2023. Following graduation and after earning a master’s in avian medicine from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, he began his career as a technical services veterinarian for Zoetis in Fayetteville. Dr. Parker then joined Phibro Animal Health in Fayetteville, serving as a senior veterinarian for the past eight years.

A diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians, he was a member of the American Association of Avian Pathologists and Arkansas VMA and was active with The Poultry Federation. Dr. Parker is survived by his wife, Lindsay; a son; his parents; and three brothers and a sister. Memorials, toward the Drew Parker Memorial Scholarship Fund, may be made to The Poultry Federation, P.O. Box 1446, Little Rock, AR 72203.

Mabon E. Pugh

Dr. Pugh (Auburn ’62), 95, Pensacola, Florida, died December 4, 2022. Following graduation, he established Airport Animal Hospital in Pensacola. During his career, Dr. Pugh also served as the veterinarian for Gulf Breeze Zoo in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He is survived by his wife, Marne; three daughters and a son; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

Lesley E. Sealing

Dr. Sealing (Colorado State ’69), 80, Englewood, Colorado, died August 29, 2022. During his veterinary career, he owned Pinehurst Animal Center in Lakewood, Colorado; directed veterinary operations at Dumb Friends League in Denver; and taught at Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver. Dr. Sealing later owned Sealing Illustration, a veterinary illustration company. His wife, Betsey; a son and a daughter; and five grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to The Wild Animal Sanctuary, 1946 County Road 53, Keenesburg, CO 80643.

Early Maxwell “Max” Sink

Dr. Sink (Georgia ’58), 93, High Point, North Carolina, died December 6, 2022. He was the founder of Guil-Rand Veterinary Hospital in High Point, where he practiced until retirement in 1999. Dr. Sink was a past president of the North Carolina VMA and served as its delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 2000-01. The NCVMA honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in 1986, Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1990, and Lifetime Meritorious Achievement Award in 2017. Dr. Sink was named a Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995.

Active in his community, he was a past president of the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce and Archdale-Trinity Lions Club and was a member of the Rotary Club of High Point. Dr. Sink was a veteran of the Army. He is survived by his son, Dr. Michael Sink (Georgia ’79), also a veterinarian; a daughter; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to West End Ministries, 903 W. English Road, High Point, NC 27262.

Ezekiel F. Thomas Jr.

Dr. Thomas (Georgia ’60), 86, Sarasota, Florida, died January 3, 2023. He owned River Forest Animal Hospital in Sarasota, where he practiced small animal medicine for 50 years. Dr. Thomas later served as a relief veterinarian in southwest Florida, retiring in 2019. He was active with Sigma Chi and with Saddle and Sirloin. Dr. Thomas’ wife, Susan; four children; and eight grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Attn: Mallory Moye, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602.

John T. Vaughan

Dr. Vaughan (Auburn ’55), 90, Auburn, Alabama, died January 13, 2023. From 1977-95, he served as dean of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Under him, the veterinary college expanded its research program, clinics, clinical faculty, and training of graduates. Dr. Vaughan provided leadership during a period when veterinary colleges were growing in the South and there was an increase in the number of female veterinary students throughout the country.

Following graduation, Dr. Vaughan practiced briefly in Tuskegee, Alabama. He subsequently served as an instructor in the large animal clinic at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Vaughan went on to teach large animal surgery at the veterinary college. From 1970-74, he served as a professor of surgery and directed the large animal hospital at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Vaughan then returned to the veterinary college at Auburn University, serving as department head of large animal medicine and surgery until being named dean in 1977. Following his tenure as dean, he served 13 years as a trustee of the AVMA PLIT, chairing the trust from 2001-03.

Dr. Vaughan was a diplomate and a past president of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He was also a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, was a past chair of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges’ Council of Deans, and was a member of the Alabama VMA. Dr. Vaughan was named the Alabama VMA’s Veterinarian of the Year in 1985. In 1996, he was a recipient of the AVMA President’s Award. In 1999, the AAEP honored Dr. Vaughan as a Distinguished Life Member. In 2003, Auburn University renamed its large animal hospital as the John Thomas Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital. In 2015, he received the AVMA Award for his contributions to veterinary medicine.

Dr. Vaughan was a member of the Auburn Rotary Club. He is survived by his wife, Ethel; three children; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

A version of this article appears in the June 2023 print issue of JAVMA.


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