Recognition Awards
FAMILY OF NINE VETERINARIANS HONORED WITH RECOGNITION AWARD FROM K-STATE VETERINARY MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
The Mosier family veterinarians at the dedication of Mosier Hall named for Jake Mosier in 1999. (l-r) Melissa Schilling; Jake, Larry, Kelly, Donald, Steve, Derek and Ross Mosier. (not pictured) Brad Fansher.
MANHATTAN - The Mosier family has been awarded a
2005 Alumni Recognition Award from the Kansas State University
College of Veterinary Medicine. The award is in acknowledgment for
this family’s time and effort devoted to advancing veterinary
medicine and for being exemplary role models for future alumni.
The award will be presented during the Kansas Veterinary Medical
Association’s annual awards gala brunch on Jan. 16, at the Hilton
Hotel in Wichita, Kan.
Dr. Jacob “Jake” Mosier was the first of nine veterinarians in the
Mosier family who obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
degrees from K-State. After receiving his DVM in 1945, Mosier became
an instructor at the College of Veterinary Medicine where he
remained for most of his career as a professor of surgery and
medicine and director of the Teaching Hospital. He served as the
Surgery and Medicine department head until 1981, and in 1999 was
honored when the Veterinary Clinical Sciences building was dedicated
in his name. Jake Mosier passed away in April, 2001.
“He really enjoyed the veterinary profession,” Mosier’s wife Betty
recalled. “He literally devoted his life to it.”
Four of his brothers have devoted their lives to the veterinary
profession as well.
After graduating from K-State in 1952, brother Ross Mosier
established a private practice in Spalding, Neb., where he remained
until retiring in 2001. Larry Mosier obtained his DVM in 1960 and
ran a large animal practice in Sargent, Neb. until his retirement
last year.
Donald Mosier went into the U.S. Army Vet Corps after graduating in
1962. In 1965 he established a practice in Spalding, Neb., later
moving to Cedar Rapids in 1969 where he continues to work.
Steve Mosier, the youngest brother, received his DVM in 1966 and
opened a practice in Hays in 1970 where he continues to treat small
and large animals. He says there was never a question as to what
career he should pursue.
“By the time I got there, I had four brothers who were in veterinary
medicine, and I didn’t think there was anything else a guy ought to
do,” Mosier said.
He feels the award is a tremendous tribute to his family, especially
his parents, Decker and Lela Mosier. Betty Mosier agreed. “They
instilled in the family the work ethic and the importance of a
college education” she said.
A second generation
of Mosier veterinarians is carrying on the family tradition. Kelly
Mosier and Brad Fansher put their veterinary skills to use as
ranchers, Mosier in Manhattan and Fansher in Garden City. Melissa
Schilling received her DVM from Iowa State University in 1995. She
is currently working for the United States Dept. of Agriculture as a
staff veterinarian for the Center for Veterinary Biologics in Ames,
Iowa.
Derek Mosier is the only family member still directly associated
with K-State. After getting his DVM at K-State in 1978, Derek went
to graduate school at Oklahoma State University, and later went into
private practice. In 1990 he returned to the K-State College of
Veterinary Medicine as an instructor of pathology, where he also
researches respiratory disease in cattle.
“Even when I left vet school, I knew I would want to return (to
K-State) at some point in time to do graduate work to get into an
academic setting,” Mosier said.