September 17, 2004
Purdue honors distinguished Animal Sciences alumni
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University Department of Animal Sciences will honor seven individuals with the 2004 Distinguished Animal Sciences Alumni Award. Recipients will be honored in three categories for their work and involvement in the animal science industry.
This award was created to recognize the achievements of graduates from the animal sciences program and to recognize alumni for contributions to the industry, as well as to provide current students an opportunity to view the pathways to success taken by alumni, said Alan Grant, head of the Department of Animal Sciences.
"The seven recipients recognized this year have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service or other endeavors related to animal sciences as exemplified by their leadership and accomplishments," Grant said. "We are very pleased to honor these recipients."
There will be an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the Lilly Hall of Life Sciences, Room 3-113. The honorees also will be recognized at the Animal Sciences Alumni and Friends Homecoming Reunion on Oct. 16 in the animal sciences tent on the Memorial Mall.
Three individuals will be awarded the Lifetime Career Award: Frank M. Clark, Thomas M. Means and George W. Thrasher.
• Frank M. Clark, who received his bachelor's degree in animal sciences in 1954, owns and operates a farm operation including corn, beans, wheat and a cow-calf enterprise. He is a past president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, past National Cattlemen's Beef Association dues director and an active NCBA committee member. In 1992 the Indiana Beef Cattle Association named Clark the Outstanding Cattleman and in 2002 he was awarded IBCA's highest recognition, the Robert Peterson-Lynnwood Farm Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001 Clark and his wife, Wini, endowed a beef scholarship at Purdue for an outstanding student demonstrating academic, leadership and beef industry excellence. In addition to his professional duties, he has served on numerous boards including currently serving on the St. Vincent Hospital Board and Warren County Council.
• Thomas M. Means graduated from Purdue with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry in 1949, a master's degree in 1952 and his doctorate in 1956. While working on his advanced degrees, he was in charge of the department's sheep unit and exhibited the grand champion wether at the International Livestock Exposition in 1954 and 1955. He joined Eli Lilly and Co. as a biochemist in 1956 and was involved with cattle, sheep and swine research. Means was instrumental in the commercial development of the first anticoccidial fermentation compound for poultry, the first continuous in-feed anthelmintic for swine and poultry, and the first approved feed additive to modify fermentation in ruminants. Means played a pivotal role in developing the animal science division including selection of personnel, facilities construction, and research and development policy guidelines for Eli Lilly's Greenfield, Ind., research laboratories.
• George W. Thrasher received a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1952, a master's degree in 1954 and a doctorate in 1958. He was an assistant professor in animal sciences at Purdue in 1958 and 1959, during which time he served as state swine Extension specialist and taught courses at Vincennes University. In 1959 Thrasher joined Commercial Solvents Corp. as a research scientist in the animal health and nutrition area. In 1964 he joined Pfizer Inc., where he served as research scientist until 1986, and then as senior scientific adviser until 1996. At Pfizer, Thrasher managed discovery and development projects that were designed to attain regulatory clearance for new animal health products in the United States and other countries. Thrasher has been recognized for many contributions to his profession and was named a fellow of the American Society of Animal Science in 1995. George and his wife, Jean, endowed a scholarship for animal sciences students who demonstrate excellence in academic and leadership abilities.
Mid-Career Award recipients are Roy D. Riggs and Gary M. Weber.
• Roy D. Riggs received his bachelor's degree in animal science in 1979 and completed the Harvard agribusiness seminar in 2001. He now serves as director for the U.S. Cattle Business Unit of Elanco Animal Health in Greenfield, Ind. He is responsible for profit and loss of the cattle business, which includes sales, marketing and field research. Riggs also assists in providing direction for U.S. and worldwide Elanco business operations. Within Elanco, Riggs also has served as the liaison for National FFA and as a judge at its national contests. He is currently a member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Beef Political Action Committee and serves on the fourth congressional district agricultural advisory committee. Riggs has served on many industry committees including being one of the original members of the Allied Industry Committee of the National Pork Producers Council.
• Gary M. Weber graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science in 1977 and 1979, respectively. In 1984 he received a doctorate from Michigan State University. Weber serves as executive director of regulatory affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association in Washington, D.C. He works closely with several regulatory agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and in public policy issues pertaining to meat inspection, animal health, beef safety research and education. Prior to his current position, he served as program leader in animal science for the USDA Extension Service in Washington, D.C. Weber has been involved in several organizations and advisory groups, including serving a term on the USDA secretary's advisory committee for meat and poultry inspection.
The Early Career award recipients are Christie S. Chavis and Brian P. Demos.
• Christie S. Chavis received her bachelor's degree in animal science in 1992 and her master's degree in growth and developmental biology in 1994. She earned an MBA from Washington University in 2004. Chavis is the commercial strategy leader for Monsanto Choice Genetics, a division of Monsanto Co. headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Chavis is responsible for the commercial development and strategy for identifying corn hybrids with improved nutritional characteristics that can enhance livestock productivity and value to the producer. She is a founding member of the Monsanto Mavericks charity bicycling team for multiple sclerosis research. She also is active in the U.S. Equestrian Federation and Missouri Horse Show Association as a horse owner and exhibitor.
• Brian P. Demos graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal science from Ohio State University in 1990. In 1992 he received his master's degree in animal science at Purdue, and he earned his doctorate in 1995 from the University of Nebraska. Demos serves as vice president of product quality and development for the ConAgra Foods Food Service Co. He is responsible for production and food safety at 12 manufacturing facilities throughout the country. During his career at ConAgra, Demos has developed nearly 80 new products and repositioned ConAgra as the largest manufacturer of cooked bacon in the world.
Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, missler@purdue.edu
Sources: Barry Delks, (765) 496-7234, delks@purdue.edu
Alan Grant, (765) 494-4808, agrant@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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