ARPAS logoThe American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) recently recognized three members as Distinguished Professional Animal Scientists. The honorees were Dr. Leonard Bull, Dr. Ray Hinders (deceased), and Dr. Vernon Pursel (deceased). The announcement came at the organization's annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, held in conjunction with the joint annual meetings of the American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science.

Distinguished Professional Animal Scientists are selected from emeritus members of ARPAS who served in leadership roles within the organization and have been recognized by their peers as having made significant contributions to the profession of animal science. The recognition is annually bestowed on only 0.3% of ARPAS members. Fifteen individuals have now been accorded this honor.

Dr. Bull is a retired animal science professor and associate director of the Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center at North Carolina State University. He was president of ARPAS (1988–1989), Southern director (1984–1985), and ASAS representative (1991–1997). Dr. Bull also served as president of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, the American Society of Animal Science, and as a faculty member and administrator at several land-grant universities. His dedication and contributions to the animal sciences are evident in this statement taken from the National Institute for Animal Agriculture Newsletter, Summer 2008. He stated, "Animal agriculture is more than words to me; it is my passion and how I earn a living. I look forward to the opportunity to serve NIAA and to interact with you to provide information, education and solutions to animal agriculture."

Dr. Hinders had a 55-year career in the animal sciences as an extension specialist, nutritional consultant, livestock producer, and feed industry nutritionist. Dr. Hinders was a charter diplomate of the American College of Animal Nutrition (ACAN). He served ARPAS as Western director (1998–2001), ADSA representative (2006–2010), served on the ARPAS Governing Council (1998–2010), and provided leadership and exam preparation support for the ACAN. The California Chapter of ARPAS presented him with their Distinguished Member Award in 2011. He received the Department of Agriculture Graduate of Distinction Award from West Texas A&M University in 2006. The recent ARPAS Symposium (2012) at the joint dairy/animal science meeting in Phoenix was dedicated to this distinguished nutritionist.

Dr. Pursel had a distinguished career as a research physiologist with the USDA-ARS at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). His research in reproductive physiology, biotechnology, and genetic engineering resulted in the publication of more than 300 research papers and abstracts. In 1984, Pursel and coworkers discovered that the pro-nuclei of pig and cow embryos could be seen and micro-injected after centrifugation. They used this technique to achieve the first successful transfer of cloned genes into farm animals. His contributions to animal agriculture were recognized by the USDA Superior Service Award in 1977, the USDA Distinguished Service Unit Award in 1989, and the ARS Distinguished Scientist of the Year Award in 1992. In 1995, he was the recipient of the Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award from the American Society of Animal Science. Dr. Pursel retired as research leader of the Gene Evaluation and Mapping Laboratory at BARC. He was named an at-large fellow by the American Society of Animal Science in 2004. He was a founding member of the Washington DC Area Chapter (1986) and held all of the officer positions. He was the recipient of the chapter's Distinguished Service Award in 2001.

About ARPAS
The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists provides certification of animal scientists through examination, continuing education, and commitment to a code of ethics. Continual improvement of individual members is catalyzed through publications (including the Professional Animal Scientist journal) and by evaluating and approving educational opportunities. Members of ARPAS are employed by companies providing products and services; by commodity organizations; by the food and feed industries; by universities for teaching, research, and extension; by federal and state governments; and as consultants providing services to producers and processors of animal products.

08.06.2012