White named Veterinarian of the Year in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Pearl River Community College graduate Dr. Calvin White of Ada, Okla., has been named the 2012 Veterinarian of the Year by the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association announced its 2012 awards recipients at the 97th Annual Convention. White graduated from Pearl River in 1971. He received his DVM in 1977 from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. White did his preceptorship in Coalgate, Okla., and returned to Coalgate after graduation. He is the son of Mrs. Marjorie White of Clinton and the late Dr. Marvin White, also a Pearl River graduate who returned to his alma mater in the 1950s and served as Pearl River president from 1968-86. In 1981 Calvin White moved to Ada where he purchased interest in the Ada Veterinary Clinic. He has been a mixed animal practitioner from the beginning of his career. White commitment to education began early in his career when, as a young veterinarian, he served on the Coalgate School Board. White continues to contribute to the education of young veterinarians and veterinary technicians by serving as a preceptor veterinarian for both at his clinic. White has served on the advisory board for the Murray State College Veterinary Technology Program, as a mentor for the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and as a mentor for students attending the Oklahoma School of Math and Science. Local 4_H and FFA programs have benefitted from Dr. White strong support of education and young people; he has provided programs at numerous Career Days for schools in the Ada area; has been a 4_H and FFA volunteer and 4_H Horse Club Leader, and he holds an Honorary State FFA Degree. He is the originator and chairperson of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Youth Scholarship Fund. White recognizes that funding is a perpetual concern for both public schools and higher education and is a strong financial supporter of not only his alma mater, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Centennial Club Member, but also of Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. White has been active in both the Oklahoma and the American Quarter Horse Association; he is a director and past president of the OQHA and a national director for AQHA as well as serving on the AQHA Public Policy Committee. In his community Dr. White is Past President of the Pontotoc County Cattlemen Assn., has served on the Ada Chamber of Commerce, and as an advisor to the Pontotoc County Animal Shelter. He currently serves on the advisory board for Marketing and Tourism for Pontotoc County. The veterinary profession in Oklahoma has been the beneficiary of White belief that all members should serve the veterinary profession in some capacity. He has served as Southeast District Alternate Director and as chair of the OVMA Legislative Committee; he served as President of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association in 2010. He has served on the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Foundation (OVMF) Board of Trustees and as OVMF Vice_President, and continues to support the OVMF Golf Tournament by bringing in sponsorships each year. He was instrumental in fund-raising efforts for the OVMA veterinary display at the Oklahoma History Center. During White tenure as President and Executive Committee member, OVMA has encountered some of its most challenging issues. Dr. White has two children: Tyler White is an attorney in Dallas. He and his wife, Christen, have a daughter, Georgiana. Sara White Blair and her husband live in Houston and work in the oil industry.