Reliving Old Memories, Making New Ones

Several classes returned to Stillwater in 2009 to celebrate special reunions held in conjunction with the center’s fall veterinary conference. Alumni, faculty, staff, students and guests gathered at the Payne County Expo for the center’s OSU Cowboy Roundup, where silent and live auctions raised $9,000 for the Annual Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund.

OSU Cowboy Roundup is one of the ways the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences encourages its graduates to stay connected to each other and to the veterinary center. Hosted by the center and sponsors, the annual Cowboy Roundup gives classmates an opportunity to socialize and reconnect.

For alumni convenience, the center holds Roundup in conjunction with its annual Fall Veterinary Conference where veterinarians hear about the latest developments, techniques and trends in veterinary medicine as well as earning continuing education units.

Celebrating 50 Years

Of the 33 living members of the class of 1960, 21 men and one widow returned to Stillwater to celebrate the class’ 50-year reunion in May. They came from Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and from various locations within Oklahoma.

Their career choices include military service, academia, private practice, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, dog racetrack veterinarian and corporate veterinary medicine and pharmacology. These veterinarians have advanced specialty training in Theriogenology, veterinary pathology and more.

As time marches on, three have watched their children also graduate from OSU with veterinary medicine degrees — Mike Major (’85), Eric Stair (’90) and Stephanie James (’98). Stephanie practices with her father Dr. Harry James, handling the small animals while her father treats the large animals.

Their hobbies include everything from being a community mayor to collecting Model-A Fords, master gardening, running their own cattle operations and traveling the world.

CLASS OF 1954: Six of the 14 living members from the class of 1954 were in town to celebrate their 55-year reunion. The group took a tour of the veterinary center marveling at the many changes since they attended what was then Oklahoma A&M College School of Veterinary Medicine. Pictured, left to right, are Drs. Ken Stinson, Richard Orr, Donald Holmes and Wade Lyon. Not pictured are Drs. Joseph Bruce and Charles Hales who also attended the reunion.

CLASS OF 1969: Members of the class of 1969 gathered to celebrate their 40-year reunion. Dr. Michael Lorenz is the first OSU graduate to serve as the center’s dean. Seated, left to right, are Drs. Michael Lorenz, Charlotte Dietz, Nancy Pate and Richard Shawley. Standing, from left, are Drs. Gary Wallis, Don Heise, John Goedeken and Robert Poteet

CLASS OF 1979: While the class of 1979 had at least 16 class members attend various 30-year reunion activities, only nine attended the Cowboy Roundup. Seated, left to right, are Drs. Marlyn Goodbary, Suzanne Barry and Danny Glover. Standing, from left, are Drs. Charles Beall, Carl Propp, Terry Lehenbauer, Robert Davis, Mike McGuire and Stuart George

CLASS OF 1989: Twenty-one members of the class of 1989, nearly 31 percent, returned to Stillwater to celebrate their 20-year reunion. First row, left to right, are Drs. Robert McLaughlin, Ramona Walkingstick, Barbara Dunn, David Fleming and Doug Nightengale. Second row, from left, are Drs. Kristi Darrow, Cheri West, Doug Parker, Rosemarie Strong, Billy Womack, Diane Cooper, Carolyn Williams and Shawn Blood. Third row, from left, are Drs. Tammy Jones, Joseph Roder, Paul Carroll, Rodney Robards, Craig Kuchera, Elizabeth Baca, Jeffery Nightengale and John Calhoun

CLASS OF 1999: Eleven members from the class of 1999 reunited to celebrate their 10-year reunion. Seated, left to right, are Drs. Chris Carter — who also served as the auctioneer for the SCAVMA live auction — Matthew McGee, Lori Trahan, James Dye and Clint Gardner. Standing, from left, are Drs. Angela DuBois, Suzanne Caruso-Brown, Kristina Fisher, Jennifer Ennis, Patricia Orth and Dana Gill

CLASS OF 2004: The class of 2004 had three members in attendance celebrating their 5-year reunion. They are, from left, Drs. Scott Sturgeon — who catered a mouthwatering barbecue for OSU Cowboy Roundup attendees — Christina Causemaker and Jason Risley