By Kate Sheehy
Dr. William “Dub” Anderson passed away on Friday, April 25. As a former TVMA and AVMA president, Dr. Anderson made great contributions to both organizations. His absence will be felt, but he leaves behind a significant imprint in veterinary medicine that will remain.
Dr. Anderson’s influence in veterinary medicine is prolific, not only from the work he did, but through the work of his family. Anderson’s brother, nephew and son and daughter, twins, are all veterinarians. “We’re a close family,” Dr. Anderson told TVMA in an interview from 2001 when he was awarded Equine Practitioner of the Year.
Growing up in Rockwell, TX, Dr. Anderson’s love of horses started at an early age when he would ride his horse to and from school each day. He graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M in 1953. After spending two years in the Air Force, he began working in large animal practice at a time, like today, when there were not many large animal practitioners. Eventually his connection with horses moved him to become exclusively an Equine Practitioner.
When he was honored as Equine Practitioner of the Year, his friend and colleague Dr. Zeke Skidmore said of Dr. Anderson, “Dub pioneered and developed many protocols in equine medicine that today are considered routine. Recognition is past due.”
Another colleague of Anderson’s said, “Volumes could be written about Dr. Anderson’s personal, public and professional contributions.”
In addition to the family members who carry on his profession; his twins, Bill and Andra, his nephew Horace Lee Williams, and brother Dr. Dan Anderson; Dr. “Dub” Anderson is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary Lou; his sister, Mary Jean Williams of Rockwall; two stepdaughters, Cinde Humphreys of Dallas and Linda Barbee of Austin; and niece Mary Sue Smith of Rockwall. Visitation was held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at Resthaven Funeral Home in Rockwall. A funeral was held at Resthaven at 2 p.m. Monday, April 28. Graveside services followed at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.
Information regarding Dr. Anderson’s surviving family members was obtained from the Dallas Morning News article on April 27.
