It is sponsored by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), Bovine Veterinarian, Merck Animal Health and Osborn Barr.
“Drs. Williams and Woelffer are role models for all of us, and we are honored to induct them into the hall of fame,” said Rick Sibbel, D.V.M., director of beef technical services for Merck, who served as emcee of the induction ceremony. “Their vision, standard of excellence and ability to make a difference in the beef and dairy veterinary community is something we can all aspire to.”
The new inductees were honored at the AABP Annual Conference and were selected by their peers, including members of AABP and AVC.
Dr. Don Williams – beef inductee
Williams developed the first national preconditioning program and was instrumental in developing large-scale cattle health programs, training initiatives for feedyard personnel and science-based animal health management protocols. He also has been an independent cattleman throughout his career.
“I’m very grateful for this award, and nothing could mean more to a person who has spent his life in the beef cattle industry,” Williams said. “It’s a special honor to be recognized by my peers, and especially meaningful when you get to be late in your years.”
His award was presented by Dee Griffin, D.V.M., of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, who noted that Williams was his father’s veterinarian. “Dr. Williams shaped my enthusiasm for beef cattle," he said, "and was the first person I knew to focus on beef cattle production management and the need for veterinary medicine.”
Williams, a Texas native, received his veterinary medical degree from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. After 18 years of private practice in Texas and Oklahoma, he served as company veterinarian for Hitch Enterprises in Guymon, Oklahoma, and later moved into feedyard management for the Henry C. Hitch Feedlot.
He served on the organizing board of directors and as president of AABP, was a founding member of AVC and served as president of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. During his career, Williams received the AABP Award for Excellence in Beef Preventive Medicine and the Amstutz-Williams Award. He is retired and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Dr. Elmer Woelffer – dairy inductee
Honored posthumously, Woelffer was considered by many to be the father of bovine reproductive programs. He integrated sound scientific principles into reproductive programs and authored “Cowside Practice,” a herd-health column in Hoard’s Dairyman, for more than 30 years.
Woelffer was one of only 14 professionals to be named an honorary member of the Klussendorf Association, considered to be the hall of fame of dairy cattle exhibitors. He was an honorary lifetime member of AABP and received numerous awards during his career, including the AABP Award for Excellence in Dairy Preventive Medicine and the Amstutz-Williams Award. He died in 1995. 
—From Merck Animal Health news release
PHOTO
Don Williams, center, is pictured, from left, with his grandson Stephen Williams; daughters Laura Toellner and Donna Mann; and son-in-law Carl Scroggins. Photo courtesy of Merck.
