Dr. Ron Highland - DVM 1975
Fetch dvm360 Conference 2025
Dr. Ron Highland, Wamego, Kansas, is the recipient of the 2025 Alumni Recognition Award to be presented during an alumni reception being held in Kansas City, Missouri, on Aug. 23 in conjunction with the annual Fetch dvm360 Conference. The award is given to veterinarians in grateful recognition for time and effort devoted to advancing veterinary medicine and for being an exemplary role model for future alumni in a professional and community setting.
Dr. Highland retired in 2023 after 10 years of service as a state representative for House District 51. He grew up in Brewster, Kansas. His career included veterinary practice, teaching, military service and pharmaceutical research and development.
“I am thankful, humbled, and honored to be recognized by my Alma Mater,” Dr. Highland said. “Goals upon graduation are to go about a career doing the best we can serving the public and caring for God’s creatures. While never aspiring to receive awards or special recognition, I am appreciative to whomever nominated me for this award. One of the proudest moments in my life was the day I graduated from KSU as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. This degree is maybe the most versatile degree available, as my career and that of many other graduates’ careers can attest. Thank you for this great honor.”
“Dr. Highland has been a dedicated alumnus and supporter of the college over the years,” said Interim Dean Dr. Elizabeth Davis. “His career path has taken him down many roads, each leading to the highest levels of success, which helps demonstrate the value and versatility of an education in veterinary medicine. He possesses an innate value of service to others, both for animal and human health. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to recognize him with this important award.”
In 1966, Dr. Highland entered the U.S. Army and attended Infantry Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned his commission as a second lieutenant. He was a platoon leader in Korea. During his first enlistment in the Army, Dr. Highland was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Ord, Fort Benning and Fort Riley. He next attended Kansas State University, completing two degrees — a bachelor’s degree in 1973 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1975 — and then entered private practice, principally with large animals.
Dr. Highland re-enlisted to serve in the Army Veterinary Corps as chief of the veterinary branch at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. That included taking care of the famous field artillery half-section with about 10 horses. He returned to Kansas State University to complete his Ph.D. in physiology/pharmacology, while teaching in the veterinary college.
After his advanced studies, he moved to a career designing research studies for new animal drugs in North America and Europe as manager of pharmacology development for Bayer Animal Health for 20 years. During that time, he brought Baytril, a drug well known for the treatment of cattle, onto the market and led other international studies. His research studies were the first in the US designed to use advanced computerized submissions to the FDA.
Upon his retirement from veterinary work, he felt called back to serve his country. He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives 51st District in 2013 and served five terms. During his tenure in the statehouse, he has chaired five committees, been vice chair of four committees, and a member of 10 committees. Numerous pieces of legislation that he authored have passed the legislature. He was the first to successfully design a transparent computerized system for the legislature to house testimonies and document files for easy access by the public and those in the legislature.
Dr. Highland is a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, was vice president of the Sertoma Club, a member of the Sigma Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta, ETA Chapter of the Gamma Sigma Delta and serves in his local church. In 1975, he received an auxiliary award from the American Veterinary Medical Association. That same year, he also received the Weide Award for Proficiency and Performance in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at K-State. In 2020, the Army Infantry Officer Candidate School class nominated him to be inducted into the United States Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.
Dr. Highland and his wife and Linda have been married for 56 years and have a daughter Christel, son Garth (Zoë), and five grandchildren, Clive, Otto, Iris, Esmé, and Arthur. They live in the Wamego area and enjoy rural life overlooking the activities along the Kansas River.