AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine has named three of its graduates as 2010 Wilford S. Bailey Distinguished Alumni in honor of their contributions to animal welfare, the profession, and their communities.

J. Russell Lindsey, D.V.M., of Birmingham is named a recipient along with Gary B. Beard of Auburn, and Ernest C. Godfrey Jr., D.V.M., of Largo, Fla.

Dr. Russell Lindsey of Birmingham graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine with a Master’s of Science in 1961 and the University of Georgia with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1957.  Upon his recruitment to the University of Alabama at Birmingham from Johns Hopkins University in 1967, he created the Department of Comparative Medicine and the Division of Animal Resources.

“Dr. Lindsey’s goal was to integrate and correlate knowledge of human and veterinary medicine for the advancement of biomedical research to improve human and animal health,” said Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Tim Boosinger.  

Dr. Lindsey helped mandate new standards for the care and housing of research animals at the university and provide an academic program in laboratory animal medicine. “During his 30 years of leadership, the UAB Department of Comparative Medicine was recognized globally as a major center of biomedical research and training program for laboratory animal veterinarians,” Dean Boosinger said.

The distinguished alumni award is named in honor of Dr. Wilford S. Bailey, a veterinary parasitologist, who held a 50-year continuous faculty appointment at Auburn University after receiving his veterinary degree in 1942, serving in positions from instructor to university president.