John Thomas Vaughan, Dean Emeritus of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University departed this life early in the morning of January 13th, 2023. He died unexpectedly in his sleep. It was a fortunate coincidence that several children and grandchildren were visiting. He was 90 years old.
He was born February 6th, 1932 to Mary Howard and Henry Asa Vaughan, Sr. in Tuskegee, Alabama. He came from agricultural roots. He said, “My father and my oldest brother said they thought I should be a veterinarian, and that suited me to a T.”
After earning his Veterinary degree from Auburn in 1955, Dr. Vaughan practiced briefly in Tuskegee. When he brought a cow to Auburn for surgery, the dean recruited him back as an instructor in the large animal clinic. The next dean sent him to the University of Pennsylvania to study equine surgery, then assigned him to teach large animal surgery at Auburn. Cornell University recruited Dr. Vaughan to be a professor of surgery and director of the large animal hospital in 1970. He returned to Auburn in 1974, accepting an offer to be department head in large animal medicine. He served as Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine from 1977 to 1995.
Professional memberships include the American Veterinary Medical Association, Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and President of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
There are far too many honors and awards to mention but naming the John Thomas Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital for him was at the top of the list.
After retirement, he served as Chair of the Professional Liability Insurance Trust that provides insurance for veterinarians.
He was working on a history of veterinary medicine at Auburn. He was a regular contributor of articles for the Auburn Veterinarian.
He was a member of the Auburn United Methodist Church, serving in numerous capacities. He was a member of the Auburn Rotary Club.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Howard Vaughan and Henry Asa Vaughan, Sr., three brothers, Henry Asa Vaughan, Jr. (Jean), Robert Howard Vaughan (Mary), and Roland Crawford Vaughan. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ethel Sell Vaughan, three children, John Thomas Vaughan, Jr. (Renata), Faythe Vaughan, and Michael Sell Vaughan, seven grandchildren, John Thomas Vaughan (Laura), Dylan Vaughan, Charlie Vaughan, F. Vaughan Immerwahr, Evelyn Vaughan, Isabella Vaughan, and Tallulah Vaughan, and one great-grandchild, Audrey Vaughan.
There will be a graveside service on Friday, January 20th, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at the Tuskegee Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to a charity of your choice.
ABBREVIATED CURRICULUM VITA
J. T. Vaughan, Dean Emeritus January 2015
College of Veterinary Medicine
Auburn University, Alabama 36849
Full Name: John Thomas Vaughan
Place of Birth: Tuskegee, Alabama
Profession: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Married to: Ethel Evelyn Sell
Children: John Thomas, Faythe, Michael Sell
Credentials: Auburn University, D.V.M. - 1955
Auburn University, M.S. - 1963
American College of Veterinary Surgeons - Diplomate, 1968;
Inaugural examination class
Practice License - AL, FL, NC, NY
Career Positions:
Department of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine 1955-1959 Instructor
College of Veterinary Medicine 1959-1964 Assistant Professor
Auburn University, Alabama: 1964-1970 Associate Professor
Large Animal Hospital 1970-1974
New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Professor of Surgery and Hospital Director
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Tenured 1973)
Department of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine 1974-1977
College of Veterinary Medicine Professor and Head
Auburn University, Alabama:
College of Veterinary Medicine 1977-1995
Auburn University, Alabama: Dean
Membership in Professional and Civic Organizations:
American Veterinary Medical Association, 1955-Present; Honor Roll, July 2003
Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, 1955-Present; Life Member, 2003
American Association of Equine Practitioners, 1961-Present; President-1981;
Distinguished Life Membership, 1999; Distinguished Educator Award, 2009
Rotary International, Auburn Club, 1963-Present
American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 1968-Present; President-1980,
Board of Regents, 1974-1982
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, 1977-1995
Chairman-Elect, Council of Deans - 1984
Commission (Board) on Veterinary Medicine, National Association of State Universities
and Land Grant Colleges, Chairman - 1986-87 and 1990-94
Commission on Food, Environment and Renewable Resources, 1990-1995
Listed in:
Who’s Who in America Personalities of America
The Blue Book Dictionary of International Biography
Who’s Who in Frontier Science and Technology
Creative Works:
Textbook, Bovine and Equine Urogenital Surgery. Walker, D.F. and Vaughan, J. T., 1980
Textbook, Atlas of Skin Diseases of the Horse. Montes, L.F. and Vaughan, J.T., 1983
Twenty-two 22 chapters in textbooks
Numerous published articles in refereed journals and proceedings
Quarterly Column, Auburn Veterinarian, 1977-Present
Recent Lectures:
Centennial History of the College of Veterinary Medicine, April 2007
Professional Liability in Equine Practice, Risk Management and Loss Control, November 2007
and January, April, July and December 2008.
Auburn Was Not an Accident- The Geopolitics/Origins of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn,
Commencement Address, May 2013
Honors, Prizes, and Awards:
Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Phi Zeta, Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Delta,
Gamma Sigma Delta
Graduated with Highest Honor, 1955
Upjohn Award, 1955
Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Veterinarian of the Year, 1985
Annual Award of Alabama Academy of Veterinary Practice, 1987
The Inaugural R. D. Turk Memorial Lecture, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Texas A & M University, 1987
National Academies of Practice
Reese L. Smith Award, 1994
Commencement Addresses:
University of Pennsylvania, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University,
Texas A & M University, Mississippi State University, and Auburn University
Honorary Member of Southeastern Livestock Exposition, 1994-Present
Citations by Governor, State Legislature (House and Senate) and U. S. Senate
(Congressional Record), 1995
Emeritus Life Member, Phi Kappa Phi, 1995
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Certificate of Appreciation, 1995
Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame, 1996
Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Distinguished Service Award, 1996
American Veterinary Medical Association President’s Award, 1996
Progressive Farmer Magazine, Special Tribute, 1996
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Centennial Club, Honorary
Lifetime Membership, 2001
The Mark Allam Lecturer, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, San Diego, CA, October 2002
The John Thomas Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Auburn University, August 2003
Auburn Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award, March 2007
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Special Recognition Award and Lecture,
March 2008
Invited Lecturer or Consultant to 36 states and District of Columbia, Canada, Guatemala, Brazil, and
Germany
Other Associations and Activities:
John and Mary Franklin Foundation Lectures Committee, 1977-1998
Auburn University Senate, 1978-1995
Auburn University Core Curriculum Commission, Chair, 1985-1990
Hughston Orthopaedic Research Foundation: Board of Trustees, 1985
Compass Bank: Advisory Board of Directors, Auburn, 1985 - 2002; Emeritus Director 2003-Present
Consultant to University of San Carlos, Guatemala, 1989-90
National Horse Show Commission, Consultant, 1990-2000
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Site Visit Accreditation Team, 1991-1994
Diabetes Trust Fund, 1993-1997; Board of Directors, President - 1995
U.S. Animal Health Association Consultant on Horse Protection Act, representing AAEP, 1994
Alabama Horse Council, Board of Directors, 1995-1997; Honorary Life Member 1997
Consultant to Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brasil - 1996
American Veterinary Medical Association Professional Liability Insurance Trust, 1996-2009; Chairman 2001-2003
Auburn University Retirees Association, 1995-Present, President 2005 and 2009
Perdido Bay Foundation Board of Trustees, 2004-2010
The Origins of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn, Against the Backdrop of Five Centuries of History (A
Work in Progress), 2007-Present
The A.V.M.A. Award 2015 Boston, MA
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