Tom Smith Maddox

Dr. Tom Smith Maddox, 81, of Greenville, Kentucky, formerly of Owensboro, died Sunday, August 5,2001 at Owensboro Mercy Hospital. Dr. Maddox was a prominent veterinarian who had been engaged in private practice, and who also had served as State Veterinarian of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was regarded as an expert in large animal communicable diseases.

Born September 7, 1919, in Mayfield, Kentucky, he graduated from Mayfield High School and received the B.S. degree from Murray State University in 1941, where he was captain of the swim team.

He served in the military in World War II, stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. After completing his service, he entered Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine, where he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership honorary society. He earned the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn in 1950. He established a general veterinary practice in Greenville, Kentucky, his wifes hometown, that same year. In 1958, he founded Kentuckiana Animal Clinic in Owensboro in partnership with Dr. Donald T. Barnes, where he practiced until he became State Veterinarian in 1972, serving until 1981. Dr. Maddox was a long-time member of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Examiners Board, writing and administering the examination for those wishing to obtain state licensure as veterinarians.

Dr. Maddox had been President of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) and served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Veterinary Medical Federation, which he chaired in 1996-97. He also was involved in the Kentucky Governors Council of Agriculture, Kentucky State Board of Agriculture, American Animal Health Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. For many years, Dr. Maddox worked continuously to strengthen the rules for eradication of Brucellosis and Hog Cholera.

After his retirement in 1982, Dr. Maddox operated a cow/calf program in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, while lending his medical expertise to relieve other regional veterinarians. He was recognized by the Kentucky Beef Cattle Association with its prestigious Service to Industry award.

Dr. Maddox was the recipient of many awards, including the KVMA Distinguished Service award in 1999, the KVMA Veterinarian of the Year award in 1980, the Leadership Award from the Thoroughbred Breeders of Kentucky in 1978, and the Outstanding Service award from the Kentucky State Board of Agriculture in 1997. He was a Kentucky Colonel.

In Muhlenberg County, Dr. Maddox had been secretary/ treasurer of the Muhlenberg County Livestock Improvement Association, a member of the Library Board and the Muhlenberg Literacy Council, a member of the Greenville City Council, and the Muhlenberg Chamber of Commerce. He also had been a member of the Daviess County Lions Club. A lifelong Presbyterian, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Owensboro and a trustee and elder of the Greenville Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Maddox was preceded in death by his wife Mary Anna Jenkins Maddox in 1987. He is survived by three sons, Dr. Tom Smith Maddox, Jr. and John Mark Maddox of Owensboro; Dr. James Guybert Maddox of Middlesboro, Kentucky; two daughters, Sherrianne M. Standley of Evansville, Indiana; and Jeanne M. George of Stone Mountain, Georgia; and eleven grandchildren, Tom III, Jeff, Austin, Bert, Blake, Meridith, Mark, Andrew, and Jordan Maddox; Ron George, Jr.; and Sloane Standley. Other survivors include his brother James W. Maddox of Martin, Tennessee; five nieces and three nephews.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Glenn Funeral Home in Owensboro. Visitation will be from 2 until 8 p.m. Wednesday and after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family will receive friends at the Evergreen Cemetery in Greenville from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday, where a graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Mary Anna Maddox Memorial Scholarship for Kentucky veterinary students, c/o Auburn University Foundation, Auburn, Alabama 36830.