Alumni News by Dr. Megan Palsa and Jaleesia Amos
McAda Family Values:
An Aggie Legacy of Veterinary Medicine
The McAda family in 1942, from left to right: Acie, Creg (father), Bill, Rosemarie, Annie (mother), Dorothy, Frances Although they didn’t know it at the time, Dr. William Edward McAda (Bill) ’52 and his brother Dr. A.C. McAda (Acie) ’50, started a family tradition when they graduated from the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. The name was later changed to Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM). Bill is among seven veterinarians in the extended McAda family. He has been practicing at the Yorktown Veterinary Clinic in Yorktown, Texas, for 63 years. His early practice focused on dairy and beef cattle and small animals. As years progressed and dairies in the county closed, his focus turned to beef cattle and other animals, which has included everything from skunks to bears. Other veterinarians in the family include Bill’s sons, Hampton McAda ’81 and Wesley McAda ’86, nephews, Travis Respondek ’94 and Warren Migura ’97, and son-in-law, Michael Jacob ’77, all of whom were inspired by Bill’s hard work and determination.
Bill serves as a role model for the family and others, continuing a legacy that began at the CVM.
Growing Up Born in 1925 near Kenedy, Texas, Bill was one of five children. His parents, Creg and Annie, were farmers, meaning each of the McAda children had chore lists to complete before leaving for school. “We milked the cows every morning before we went to school and walked about three miles to the Michna Country School,” Bill explained. The family also raised pigs and chickens. At the time, the school had three to four students in each grade. Bill, Acie, and their three sisters attended school there until going into Kenedy for high school. When he wasn’t at school, Bill was an active hunter and athlete. These activities helped shape him into the person he is today. During his senior year of high school, he served as captain of the football team, which he
said helped him develop leadership skills. Bill also excelled in track and field, winning awards in events such as the broad jump. As a dove hunter, Bill developed his shooting skills, which helped when serving in World War II. The activity that first led Bill to Texas A&M University was Future Farmers of America (FFA). As a member of the local high school FFA chapter, Bill competed in judging contests held at Texas A&M. At one competition, he recalled sleeping under the bleachers at Kyle Field with hay as bedding. There was nowhere else to house the judging team at the time, he said. “We had hay about a foot deep. That’s what we slept on.” Bill’s time spent in FFA and on the family farm ultimately influenced his choice to pursue veterinary medicine. “I was raised on a farm, and I raised cattle ever since I was five years old. I just kind of grew into veterinary medicine,” he said.
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