True & Valiant

ALUMNI AWARD FEATURES

This Homecoming, the college of Veterinary Medicine recognized five individuals with alumni and service awards.

These individuals are just a small example of the college’s alumni and friends who have made the world a better place.

Read their full stories online at vetmed.iastate.edu/true-valiant-2021

Dr. Norman Cheville (’59)

Stange Award

In his book, Pioneer Science and the Great Plaques: How Microbes, War and Public Health Shaped Animal Health, published by the Purdue University Press, Norman Cheville, dean emeritus of the College of Veterinary Medicine, covers a century of progress fighting infectious diseases and plaques, illuminating the important role of veterinary research and science. “A mystery existed about why America trailed Europe by a full century in building science-based veterinary colleges to educate for animal health care,” Cheville says. “There had to be a story here.”

Dr. Joel Leininger (’72)

Stange Award

There was a time in Joel Leininger’s life that when asked what his “claim to fame” was, he wasn’t hesitant with his answer. “I would say I was Johnny Carson’s parents’ paper boy back in Columbus, Nebraska,” he said. “They lived two blocks from our house and my mother was friends with Carson’s mom.“ Leininger’s “claim to fame” has been pushed away to make room for a different accomplishment. When he joined the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in North Carolina, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he made his mark in toxicologic pathology and in particular the pathology of the rat. Leininger made substantial contributions to the classic textbook Pathology of the Fischer Rat while also serving as associate editor of the 2nd edition titled Pathology of the Rat. “My work on these books was the highlight of my professional life,” he said.

Dr. Paul Snyder (‘85)

Stange Award

Paul Snyder can trace his professional philosophy back to his college days. “I’ve always thought of my professional career as a journey,” he said. As an ISU vet med student, Snyder had his heart set on becoming a dairy veterinarian and he did just that after graduating. Yet his ambitions kept drifting back to a seed planted by a pair of veterinary pathology faculty. “They told me I really had a natural aptitude for pathology,” Snyder recalled. “They had a passion and enthusiasm for the profession that was infectious. I couldn’t get enough of the subject when I was a student and even as a practicing veterinarian. Today he is a board-certified veterinary pathologist who had a long career at Purdue University and now provides pathologyrelated services to the pharmaceutical and toxicological research community with EPL, Inc.

Dr. Molly Lee (’14)

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

COVID-19 changed everyone’s lives. It also thrust Molly Lee into the spotlight in Ames, Iowa. As one of the five voting members of the Story County Board of Health, all of a sudden, Lee was making decisions that directly impacted Story County including the City of Ames and Iowa State University. “When I was appointed to the Board, I didn’t expect to have such heavy decisions resting on my shoulders,” she said. “It’s been a little intimidating, sometimes stressful, and certainly busy.”

Richard Hill (MS ‘90)

Lorriane J. Hoffman Graduate Alumni Award

There’s a line on Richard Hill’s resume that sums up his career:“Multiple positions with the Veterinary Services’ Center for Veterinary Biologics.” “In USDA’s Veterinary Services, and throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of topics and issues,” Hill said. “I guess you could say I’ve had a non-traditional veterinary career with many diverse opportunities.” He has worked in private practice and for the USDA, including 15 years when he was the co-director of the Center for Veterinary Biologics before concluding his career as the executive director of the National Import Export Services. Even in retirement, Hill has stayed involved. He is active with the AVMA and is the current president of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

Pictured from the left are, Dr. Molly Lee, Dr. Joel Leininger, Dr. RIchard Hill, Dr. Paul Snyder and Dean Dan Grooms. Not pictured Dr. Norman Cheville.

Photo: Christopher Gannon