2019 Hall of Fame Chairback Recipient
State University and was a professor at determine how to produce healthier Montana State University. calves for feedlots. “Oscar guided me to animal science,” “The original intent was eight or 10 Gill said. “When he knew I was going people,” Gill said. “The symposium kind to graduate in agricultural education, he of got out of hand and a couple hundred convinced me I needed to get a master’s people attended it.” degree in animal science. He immediately The symposium was titled the offered me an assistantship.” preconditioning seminar, Gill said. The Gill worked two years as an assistant term preconditioning cattle was coined at county agent with Montana State this symposium, he added. University Extension before pursuing a “The term came about between a Ph.D. in animal science at Oregon State strong argument with me and John University. Upon receiving his degree in Herrick, a veterinarian from Iowa State 1965, Gill moved to California and began University,” Gill said. “A bunch of us his career in the cattle feeding industry. were naïve enough to believe we could “The Imperial Valley was the heart of solve the problem with vaccinations and enuine scholar. True gentleman. California’s cattle feeding industry,” Gill worming cattle before they were shipped. Incredible intellect. Mr. Politeness. said. “It was really where large-scale cattle But John said ‘No, they will have to be Don Gill left a 38-year impact on feeding started in the United States.” conditioned before the move.’” Oklahoma State University. He shaped lives, transformed the cattle feeding He worked with cattle feeders for two The preconditioning seminar would industry and generated millions of dollars years until Oklahoma State University be one of many symposiums Gill would for Oklahoma and surrounding states’ recruited him to fill an open Extension have significant contributions to while economies through selfless service service position, Gill said. Gill began as at Oklahoma State University, said an Extension animal nutritionist in 1966 Don Wagner, past OSU Department of Gill lived in Stevensville, Montana, with Oklahoma State University and Animal Science department head. until his father was deployed to Baghdad, stayed with the university throughout the Iraq. He lived there for 18 months with his “He was one of the first to discover entirety of his career. family while his father was an agricultural if you precondition calves, the calves education teacher for the Point Four “If it was not for Oscar Thomas,” would be healthier when they arrived Program. The Point Four Program was Gill said. “I probably would never have at the feedlot,” Wagner said. “Also, the a part of U.S. foreign policy to spread taken the position with Oklahoma State. calves would grade better and have technical assistance and economic aid to He convinced me this university had the higher carcass value when harvested. undeveloped countries under the Truman potential to grow and be more successful Dr. Gill’s work would eventually lead administration, according to the Truman than the University of California.” to the development of the now widely Library. After obtaining his high school recognized and popular Oklahoma diploma through correspondence courses, A Man of Inquiries Quality Beef Network.” Gill returned to Montana State University When Gill left California, he said his Gill said he would like to be recognized where he received his bachelor’s degree friends gave him a list of things he needed as a catalyst for bringing people together in agricultural education in 1957 and to solve when he arrived in Oklahoma. master’s degree in animal science in 1959. On that list, he added, was to determine to solve problems and there is no doubt he has achieved this. He credits Oscar Thomas for instilling why so many cattle would become sick “Animal science at Oklahoma State his passion for animal science. Thomas and die once they reached the California feedlots. Gill coordinated a symposium became pretty famous for bringing people received his degree from Oklahoma of animal and veterinary scientists to together and putting on symposiums,”
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