In Memory – February 1, 2024

Edgar T. Clark III

Dr. Clark (Cornell ’69), 78, Eldred, Pennsylvania, died July 20, 2023. He was the founder of Portville Veterinary Clinic in Portville, New York, where he practiced for 30 years. Dr. Clark was a past president of the Portville Free Library. He is survived by his wife, MaryAnn; two sons and two daughters; and six grandchildren.

Richard E. Coon

Dr. Coon (Colorado State ’60), 87, Portland, Oregon, died December 14, 2023. Following graduation, he served two years in the Army Veterinary Corps. Dr. Coon subsequently joined his father, Dr. Elwyn Coon, at Forest Grove Veterinary Clinic in Forest Grove, Oregon, where he practiced for 36 years until retirement.

A past president of the Oregon VMA, he served as Oregon’s delegate and alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates. In 2000, Dr. Coon received the Oregon VMA Meritorious Service Award. He served on several AVMA councils and committees, including the Council on Research, Council on Veterinary Service, Committee on Environmental Issues, Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee, and Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. Dr. Coon also represented District XI on the AVMA Board of Directors and served as a director of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.

Active in his community, he was a past president of the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Coon is survived by his wife, Arlene; two sons and a daughter; and four grandchildren.

William A. Haines

Dr. Haines (Purdue ’65), 82, Newington, Connecticut, died December 5, 2023. He owned Hartford Veterinary Hospital in Newington, where he practiced for 59 years. Dr. Haines served as president of the Connecticut and New England VMAs and was a past Connecticut Veterinarian of the Year. He also served as Connecticut’s delegate and alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates and was a member of the board of directors of the Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England.

Dr. Haines was also a past president of the Newington Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow. He served on the board of directors of the former Newington Children’s Hospital, where he helped establish a pet therapy program. Dr. Haines was active with the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center and volunteered with Heifer International. His wife, Joan; two sons and a daughter; five grandchildren; and three sisters survive him. Memorials may be made to First Church of Christ, 250 Main St., Wethersfield, CT 06109; Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111; or Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England, P.O. Box 3221, North Attleboro, MA 02761.

Dewey G. Hobson

Dr. Hobson (Oklahoma State ’54), 93, Yuma, Arizona, died December 14, 2023. Following graduation, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Spirit Lake, Iowa, for 20 years. Dr. Hobson subsequently owned a small animal practice in Watsonville, California, for 25 years. His wife, Jean; a son and a daughter; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild survive him.

James E. Hosek

Dr. Hosek (Illinois ’88), 59, Chicago, died December 3, 2023. He owned Merrick Animal Hospital in Brookfield, Illinois. Dr. Hosek also owned a house call practice and served as a relief veterinarian in the Chicago area. His wife, Laurie; two sons; his parents; and two brothers survive him.

Dan E. Suther

Dr. Suther (Minnesota ’54), 92, Redding, California, died May 8, 2023. Prior to retirement in 1993, he served as California state veterinarian and director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division. Dr. Suther was a veteran of the Army. His three sons, a daughter, four grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to Backcountry Horsemen of California, 13061 Rosedale Highway, Suite G, Box 217, Bakersfield, CA 93314; Whiskeytown Environmental School Camp, 10106 Paige Bar Road, Redding, CA 96001; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

William K. Theus

Dr. Theus (Kansas State ’14), 47, Boerne, Texas, died October 14, 2023. He served as a relief veterinarian in the San Antonio area. Earlier in his career, Dr. Theus practiced at several small animal clinics in San Antonio. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he coordinated efforts to rescue hundreds of stranded pets. Dr. Theus also donated his services to pets belonging to women at shelters in San Antonio. He is survived by his mother and a sister. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or Grace Episcopal Church, 20955 W. Tejas Trail, San Antonio, TX 78257.

A version of this story appears in the April 2024 print issue of JAVMA

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