ACADEMICS
Dr. Walter Wendler, Chancellor John Sharp, Dr. Patrick J. Stover, Dr. Paul Morley, Dr. Charles Graham, Dr. Eleanor M. Green, Dr. Susan Eades, and Dr. Bruce Akey
The 11,233-square-foot building will house labs for bacteriology, pathology, serology, and virology, as well as spaces for receiving and processing, necropsy, and support. “These new state-of-the-art facilities create a highway of research activity from WT to Texas A&M that supports animal health in this region,” Dr. Walter Wendler, president of WT, said. “This partnership brings together the system’s universities to extend their reach and address Texas’ large animal veterinary needs.” The TVMDL building will be named the Charles W. Graham, DVM Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory after Dr. Graham, a Distinguished Alumnus and renowned equine veterinarian. Graham’s veterinary practice led to the establishment of Southwest Stallion Station, a horse-breeding business responsible for the nation’s most famous quarter horses. He is the only person to serve as president of both the Texas Quarter Horse Association and the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association. In addition to the equine industry, he is recognized as a successful cattleman and founder of Graham Land and Cattle
Company, specializing in Brahman-influenced cattle. Sharp said that the two new facilities under construction are an important part of The Texas A&M University System’s “Serving Every Texan Every Day” initiative to partner with four system schools—WT, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Tarleton State University, and Prairie View A&M University—to expand the veterinary medical education, research, undergraduate education, and outreach throughout the state. Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Services (CVM) established the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Complex at WT to address the shortage of rural and large animal veterinarians in Texas. “The VERO facility will be the most cost-effective and innovative game-changer in support of rural veterinary medicine in the Texas Panhandle,” said Dr. Eleanor M Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “With Dr. Morley on board at VERO, the exchange of knowledge on the information superhighway between WT and the CVM, for the benefit of Texas and the livestock industry, will accelerate.” ■
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