Disaster - College of Veterinary Medicine - Texas A&M University

program in 1957. Pierce took a twoyear
break from academia to work in a
private practice in San Angelo, TX, but
returned to Texas A&M in 1961, and
has been an integral part of the veterinary
pathobiology department ever
since. He has held a variety of teaching
positions and even served as head
of the department from 1978–1989.
During his career at the CVM, Pierce
developed numerous new courses and
taught a broad array of professional
and graduate courses. He was recognized
with a variety of teaching awards
including the Harold Casey Award for
Sustained Excellence in the Teaching
of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Gamma
Sigma Delta Distinguished Service
Award, the Faculty Distinguished
Achievement Award for Teaching
and the Faculty Appreciation Award
by Southwestern Veterinarian Magazine.
A devoted researcher, Pierce has an
extensive list of publications, reports,
papers, and presentations delivered.
He has been involved in a number of
professional organizations including
the American College of Veterinary
Pathologists, the American Society of
Veterinary Clinical Pathologists, the
Charles Louis Davis DVM Foundation
for Veterinary Pathology, the U.S./
Canadian Academy of Pathology, the
Texas Veterinary Medical Association,
and the American Veterinary Medical
Association.
Dr. William A. Roach, ’57, practiced
veterinary medicine in Killeen, TX,
from 1957 until his retirement in 1994.
He served his community in various
positions including Chairman of the
Board of the Greater
Killeen Chamber of Commerce
in which he was a
member for 39 years. He
also served as the Vice
Chairman of the Central
Texas College Foundation,
was president of the
Killeen Industrial Foundation
for two terms, vice
president of the Killeen
Economic Development
Corporation, a member of
the Central Texas Council
of Governments, president
and founder of the Clements
Boys & Girls Club,
and a board member of
Vive Les Artes Society.
Roach was so instrumental
in his community that
September 11, 1997, was
proclaimed by the cities of
Killeen, Harker Heights,
and Nolanville to be “Dr.
Bill Roach Day.” Other
awards he has received include the
Small Business of the Year Award from
the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce,
the 1998 Boy Scouts of America
Distinguished Citizen Award, and he
was named a Mark Francis Fellow by
the CVM. He continues to be involved
in veterinary medicine and Texas A&M
through organizations such as the
American Veterinary Medical Association,
the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
and the Texas A&M Association
of Former Students.
Dr. M. Michael Swindle, ’69, is
currently the director of the divi-
Dr. Eleanor M. Green, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Michael
Swindle enjoy the cocktail reception on the terrace at Miramont Country Club.
Alumni News
Dr. Eleanor M. Green, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary
Medicine, presents the Outstanding Alumni plaque to
Dr. William A. Roach.
sion of laboratory animal resources
and professor and chairman in the
department of comparative medicine
at the Medical University of South
Carolina. In a research career that has
spanned 30 years, Swindle is recognized
internationally as one of the
preeminent authorities for the use of
swine as a human surgical model. He
consults globally with medical universities
on swine surgical procedures, and
on the construction and operation of
surgical facilities for Departments of
Comparative Medicine. He is active in
many professional associations including
the American College of Laboratory
Animal Medicine, the American
Association for the Accreditation of
Laboratory Animal Care, the Academy
for Surgical Research, and the European
College of Laboratory Animal
Medicine. His professional awards
include the Smithy Research Award,
the Von Recum Award, the Markowitz
Award, the Brewer Scientific Achievement
Award, the ASCLAP Research
Award, and the Comparative Medicine
Scientist Award. He has been primary
or co-investigator on millions of dollars
in grant funding and has published
over 300 research abstracts, journal
articles, books and book chapters. He
has also been recognized by Rotary International,
Knights of Columbus, and
the American Heart Association for his
many community service activities.
CVM Today • Summer 2010 • 47