Karl White

After my Penncrest years I went to Penn State in Pre-veterinary Science. I played Lacrosse there and graduated with a BSci in 1964. Then it was off to Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine graduating in 1967 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.  In 1981, I went to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for a post Doc bit with the Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery. In 1983 I became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery.

In 1965 I married Kay Wood (Penncrest 1961). We moved to Morgan Hill, CA after I graduated where I was in a mostly horse veterinary practice for 10 years, eventually becoming a partner. From there I went back to Cornell to teach and was Director of the Large Animal Hospital.

In 1981 we moved to Moscow, Idaho, and a job at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, WA. While there I was an Equine surgeon but also did some orthopaedic surgery on cattle. I eventually made full professor and took over management of all of the 3rd year teaching labs which utilized animals. A major accomplishment was the introduction of an animal sparing philosophy and the associated techniques in teaching surgery and diagnostic techniques. I took early retirement to escape from added administrative responsibilities.

Twenty one days after I physically retired Kay was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. That became an almost full time job and I am very grateful the Good Lord made me retire early. She was projected to have about 3 years. You know her- she didn’t accept that so she had 6 good years and 3 not so good months. She left us in April, 2007. We have 4 great children (2 boys, 2 girls) and now 10, soon to be 11 grand children and 1 great grand child. My kids-in-law are just as great.

Shortly after Kay died I moved from our 26 year house in Moscow, ID, to a new house on the Spokane River in Post Falls, ID. I’m just a couple of miles from the 2 oldest kids and their families and I have no grass to mow. I belong to a great church in Post Falls. First time in 50+ years I’ve actually wanted to go to church. A son-in-law is one of the pastors.

I’m busy working on the house, trying to start up my wood carving hobby again and threatening to begin on the piano and organ again. I’ve started a book, after years of nagging by my Texas relatives, relating some of my hilarious and trying experiences as a practicing veterinarian. I’m also very actively dating again and finding that women are like fine wine- better with age. What a kick this is! And I have 2 surrogate mothers (my daughters) who keep me on a tight rein and insist on a phone call to report after every date. I call one and tell her and before I can call the other she already knows all about it. I don’t know how they do this.