Dr. Maurice Acree and his wife, Jan, with their two
Doberman pinschers Duke and Duchess.
Jan Acree, known to fans of the Grand Ole Opry as Jan Howard, is a longtime
member of the Opry and performs on a regular basis.
photo by Kreis Weigel
|
by Nancy Howell
Dr. Maurice Acree,
a retired Nashville pathologist, has established a $1.23 million charitable
remainder trust to support small animal research at the UT College of Veterinary
Medicine. The Acree Chair in Small Animal Research is an expression of Acree's
thanks for the quality of care his dogs received at the college.
When Acree's beloved Doberman pinscher, Duchess, developed
a tumor on her foot nearly two years ago, he knew what needed to be done.
He just didn't know where to locate a surgeon qualified to do the surgery.
"All I wanted to do was to have her with me as long
as possible," he said. A medical associate gave Acree the name of Dr.
D.J. Krahwinkel, a department head and surgeon at the University of Tennessee
College of Veterinary Medicine.
Radical surgery was performed on Duchess' paw to remove
the malignant tumor, followed by a skin graft to close the wound. She recovered
from the surgery and resumed her role as a happy member of the family, said
Acree. Duchess and her companion, Duke, both were UT clients, receiving
specialized care for cancer and cardiac problems before their deaths, at
age 9, only a few weeks apart last summer.
Acree made the trust contribution to create a clinical
research position dedicated to the prevention and treatment of diseases
afflicting small animals, particularly the Doberman pinscher population.
Among the more common diseases and conditions affecting the breed are cardiomyopathy,
hypothyroidism, malignant melanoma, blood clotting disorders and orthopedic
problems.
"I established this chair to make a difference,"
he said. "The deciding factors in my decision were the kindness and
affection of the veterinary college staff, its outstanding faculty and the
great facilities there."
Acree's interest in the Doberman pinscher began over 15
years ago, when he acquired a Doberman for security. His affection for the
breed developed immediately. "The Doberman is one of God's greatest
gifts to mankind," he said.
A native of Macon, Georgia, Acree graduated from the Baylor
School in Chattanooga and received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from
Vanderbilt. After several years in the Navy as a fighter pilot, serving
in Korea, he returned to the UT College of Medicine in Memphis to complete
his medical degree, specializing in pathology.
The Acree gift is one of the largest single contributions
to the veterinary college to date and represents an important step in the
school's future, said Dr. Mike Shires, dean. "An endowment of this
magnitude is an immense help to our clinical research program and provides
us with added opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable."
Acree said the veterinary college has great potential,
and he hopes his donation will help contribute to that potential. "When
you get me on the subject of the veterinary school, the Doberman and animals
in general, you've  reached a spot that's close to my heart." |