A Tribute to My Silver Fox -- 54 Years of Pets and Their People

Fifty-four years ago this month, Steve left Auburn University's School of Veterinary Medicine to begin his preceptorship (like an internship) with Dr. Robert Bentley in Huntsville. He was 24 years old. Today is his last day practicing at County Line Veterinary Services in Danville with Dr. Michael Penney and his amazing staff. Now he's 78. What great bookends these are to his long and remarkable career.

(What a nice gesture today from the staff at County Line Veterinary Services.)

Steve continued to work for Dr. Bentley for a year before moving to Hartselle and opening Pearson Animal Hospital on April 2, 1973. For almost 30 years, he and his staff took care of every critter that walked in the door, plus many he went out to farms to treat. For more than 10 years, he did pretty much everything but horses. Treating that category of animals ended abruptly when he was almost killed when he was in a pen with a horse that went berserk. Through the years, he has been scratched, bitten, stepped on, jerked, covered in blood and all manner of poop, and he has brought home fleas and strange ailments. !!!!! In addition to hundreds of cows and thousands of dogs and cats, he has treated a few snakes, a monkey, birds, goats, sheep, chickens, various gerbils and guinea pigs, and a couple of tigers! In Morgan County, no less! For most of those 30 years, there were no emergency clinics. HE was the emergency clinic and was often called by frantic pet owners in the middle of the night, on weekends, and on holidays. Although it was invariably at inconvenient times, those pet owners, as well as all those he saw during regular office hours, helped him provide a good living so that we could rear, feed, clothe, and educate our three children. We are extremely grateful for all of his clients through these years.

He sold Pearson Animal Hospital to Dr. Gault and Dr. Crouch in 2002, and we moved to Ecuador. There, he used his skills to help Quichua farmers with their animals -- specifically teaching them ways their cows could be healthier and give more milk and how to castrate their guinea pigs so they would grow fatter and sell for more money in the market. All of that led to building relationships in order to share the Gospel and have Bible studies in their homes. One of the best times came when Steve made friends with a veterinarian in Quito who eventually prayed to receive Christ.

After four years, we moved back . . . but he no longer owned a clinic. He was hired by Banfield Pet Hospital (inside PetSmart stores) to be the Chief of Staff and worked in Huntsville while the clinic in Decatur was being built. After six years in the corporate setting, he attempted to retire but was called on to help in various clinics in North Alabama -- with Dr. Pitman in Athens, Dr. Berry in Priceville, and a few others -- before settling in with Dr. Penney in Danville for the past several years.

Steve is one of the best diagnosticians I have ever encountered. Certainly 54 years of experience have contributed to that!! He has also performed surgeries of all kinds, and his skills are still sharp. But isn't it true that the best time to leave a job is when things are going well?

He's not ending this long career because he no longer enjoys it. He really loves interacting with clients and staff members and sharing his knowledge, but it's time for him to move on to other aspects of his life.

In addition to 16 grandchildren, he has 2 great grandsons. He wants to give them more attention.

He is an excellent Sunday School teacher, which requires hours of preparation each week.

He loves working in the yard, digging in the dirt, and planting things. I reap the benefits.

He loves fishing and being on the river.

He has received training to be a chaplain with the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Team and is eager to help in that capacity.

He's a great writer, but that pursuit requires TIME.

We have done a lot of traveling throughout our marriage, but there are still trips (short and long) that we'd like to take.

I am confident that my Silver Fox won't be bored or idle. And if you see him around town or in church and have a pet question, don't hesitate to ask him. He'll be happy to answer.

I'm very proud of Steve. It has been my privilege to have a front row seat during his entire 54-year career. Now, we move on.

#autobiography #veterinarian #longcareer #retiring