United Animal Health honored the late Dr. Gary L. Allee, with the 2024 John B. Swisher
Leadership Award on Thurs., June 6 at
World Pork Expo, celebrating his lifelong contributions to the
swine industry.
DES
MOINES, Iowa , June 28,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- United Animal Health
honored the late Dr. Gary L. Allee,
with the 2024 John B. Swisher Leadership Award on Thurs., June 6 at World Pork Expo, celebrating
his lifelong contributions to the swine industry.
"Dr. Allee always said he was most proud of
his grad students in the swine industry. He measured his success
through the success of others," Dr. Aaron
Gaines, managing partner for Ani-Tek, commented during his
remarks at the ceremony.
The John B. Swisher Leadership Award is awarded annually during
World Pork Expo to an individual who has significantly contributed
to the advancement of the swine industry and who has exhibited
extraordinary leadership qualities throughout their career.
Allee, who passed away in 2020, was awarded posthumously. His
wife, Norma Allee, accepted the
award on his behalf.
"He would be very, very proud," Norma
Allee said of her late husband. "He always said his greatest
success was his students. He loved his job, and he loved his
students."
Allee was a world-renowned swine nutritionist who spent more
than 25 years at the University of
Missouri as an undergraduate student, graduate student,
faculty member and department head. For nearly two decades, Allee
built his career at Kansas State
University, where he and Norma raised their two children and
made lifelong friendships. In 1987, he went home to Missouri to lead the Animal Sciences
Department at the University of
Missouri. Eventually he returned to his true professional
love—collaborative research—and formed productive and rewarding new
partnerships that further propelled his career. His greatest
professional legacy was his mentorship of 27 doctorate and 28
master's students.
"Dr. Allee always said he was most proud of his grad students in
the swine industry. He measured his success through the success of
others," Dr. Aaron Gaines, managing
partner for Ani-Tek, commented during his remarks at the ceremony.
"That's something John Swisher and
Dr. Allee have in common. They really care about the success of
others," Gaines added.
Gaines is one of the doctorate students mentored by Allee and he
remains close with the family today. Also in attendance were
several other former students of Allee, together with past
recipients of the honor.
Allee was recognized nationally and internationally for his
pioneering contributions to swine nutrition and swine production.
He gave more than 200 invited presentations in 26 states and 28
countries. He authored more than 100 refereed journal articles and
more than 350 abstracts and technical papers. He proudly served as
the vice president, president and director of the Midwest American
Society of Animal Sciences, which hosts an annual symposium in his
honor, and on the Board of Directors of Omega Protein Corp. for
nearly two decades.
As a part of this award, United Animal Health will donate
$5,000 to the University of Missouri Gary L. Allee Memorial
Scholarship Fund.
Allee maintained that his rewarding life and career would not
have been possible without the scholarships that allowed him, as
one of 11 children raised on a family farm in rural Missouri, to attend college. To honor his
legacy, the Gary L. Allee Memorial
Scholarship Fund awards need-based scholarships to students who
also dream of studying agriculture at the University of Missouri.
"I knew Gary and his contributions to the pork industry were
outsized", remarked Dr. Doug Webel,
President and CEO of United Animal Health, as he presented the
award. "Gary was not afraid to challenge the status quo and his
legacy to the swine industry lives on in the many highly
influential students that he mentored who contribute to the
industry today."
About the John B. Swisher Leadership Award
The John B. Swisher Leadership Award has been awarded annually
at World Pork Expo since 2009. The award recognizes outstanding
leadership of individuals in all swine-related fields and is named
for United Animal Health's founder John B.
Swisher, who has himself made significant contributions to
the industry. Criteria to receive the award include the individual
making significant contributions to swine industry, demonstrating
leadership, overcoming obstacles and generating results. Award
recipients are nominated by a group of their peers. For a list of
past recipients, visit UnitedAnH.com/SwisherAward.
About United Animal Health
United Animal Health, founded in 1956, is a research-driven
company that helps protein producers raise healthier animals to
feed a growing world. United Animal Health offers livestock
nutrition and health products globally through the United Animal
Health or affiliate brands. To learn more, visit UnitedAnH.com.
Media Contact
David Cain, United Animal Health,
1 317-407-8521,
david.cain@unitedanh.com, http://unitedanh.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/united-animal-health-honors-dr-gary-l-allee-with-the-2024-john-b-swisher-leadership-award-302185317.html
SOURCE United Animal Health