NEWS

Known for his integrity, passion for student success, and commitment to the highest standard of excellence as a practicing veterinarian and as a teacher and mentor to animal science and pre-veterinary students, Dr. William Green, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Sciences at Louisiana Tech, has been voted by the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) Board of Directors as the 2019 Everett D. Besch Distinguished Service Award winner.

Dr. William Green works with a student in Louisiana Tech’s School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry.

Given in recognition of outstanding service to the community and to the veterinary profession, the award will be presented at the LVMA’s 2020 Winter Meeting at the Business Meeting Luncheon on Feb. 1.

Green was nominated by fellow veterinarians Dr. Rebecca McConnico, Interim Assistant Director of Tech’s School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, and Dr. Keri Cataldo, president of the Northeast Louisiana LVMA and a practicing veterinarian in West Monroe.

“Dr. Green’s commitment of selfless service to the veterinary profession in Louisiana and to the Louisiana Tech University community are unmatched,” McConnico said. “He is an immensely impactful positive influence in the lives of our profession’s students, graduates, and leaders.”

Under Green’s leadership, the Tech pre-veterinary training program has grown into one of the most successful programs in the state of Louisiana and regionally. Between 65-80 percent of Tech veterinary school applicants receive offers to attend accredited veterinary schools nationwide every year, and many of these students pursue veterinary careers in agriculture because of Dr. Green’s strong positive influence. His teaching style and accomplishments are consistently revered by numerous undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, staff, and faculty colleagues and is further acknowledged by his receiving numerous School and University-wide teaching and advising awards.

“Dr. Green’s commitment to the veterinarians of Louisiana through his work on the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine, his high standard of care for animal well-being as a practicing veterinarian, and his mentorship and tutelage of numerous animal science, pre-veterinary, and veterinary students, new veterinary graduates, and seasoned veterinarians is remarkable and worthy of this honorable distinction,” Green’s nomination read in part. “He is in a rare group of mentors with a passion for caring for agriculture animals and continues to influence pre-veterinary students to follow this greatly needed career path.”

One of the most esteemed veterinarians in the state, Green will continue to work with Tech as the school’s beef cattle veterinarian and as instructor of pre-veterinary honors courses, “so he’ll carry on that legacy even after his retirement from the University,” McConnico said. “His contributions to the veterinary profession in teaching, service, research, and administration are extraordinary.”

Dr. Besch, whose name is on the award, was appointed the founding dean of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and led the development of Louisiana’s veterinary medical educational program, including establishment of the curriculum, construction of the veterinary school complex, and recruitment of faculty and staff. Besch served as dean from 1968 until his retirement in 1988.