A Veterinarian’s Life and A Veterinarian’s Wife

Author: Derry David Magee and Gwendora Wil

ISBN 978-1-62137-269-1 (softcover)

213 pages

This book contains stories of my life as a veterinarian in private practice for 32 years and 17 years as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Department at Texas A&M University. I served 7 years as a State Veterinarian for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The book also includes stories of my wife (Dora) who grew up in Ward 9 in Washington Parish in the Mt. Pisgah community and working beside me as a veterinarian’s wife. While caring for our family and home, she dedicated 27 years to education in Louisiana and Texas.

Upon my retirement in March, 2007, I had completed 49 years in the practice of veterinary medicine. Even though, I am enjoying retirement, I wish that I were still practicing. Working as a veterinarian was my life’s passion. Dora retired in June, 2007. Our time has been dedicated to our families, our church, researching our family genealogies, and visiting with lifelong friends and friends who have been a part of our lives during the last 20 years in Texas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a freshman at Mt. Hermon High School in 1949, I purchased the Alford farm and began dairying. I played center on the basketball with our team winning the Tangipahoa Parish Tournament. In 1951, I received the American Farmer Degree. In 1952, I was Valedictorian at Mt. Hermon High School, began Pre-vet at LSU, and married.

In 1953, I received the Borden’s Award at LSU for having the highest GPA in the freshman class. In 1954, I entered Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with honors in 1958. Following graduation, I began a veterinary practice in Tangipahoa Parish, LA, where I practiced for 32 years.

About 1965, while in practice, I started a Herd Health Program which later became known as Production Medicine. In 1990, I went to work as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Department at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and later became a Clinical Associate Professor.

In the year 2000, I became the state veterinarian for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Upon completing 17 years in practice at Texas A&M University, I retired in 2007.