From listmaster animalgenome.org Wed Dec 24 17:00:06 2025
From: "Jessica Petersen" <jessica.petersenunl.edu>
Message-Id: <20251224230006.04FC3C172E87genome5.ansci.iastate.edu>
To: Members of AnGenMap <angenmapanimalgenome.org>
Subject: Passing of L Dale Van Vleck
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:00:06 -0600
A true legend in Animal Breeding, Dr. L. Dale Van Vleck, passed away
December 23, 2025, in Dallas, TX, after a brief illness.
Dr. Van Vleck was born on June 11, 1933. He grew up near Clearwater,
Nebraska on his family farm. Dale earned his bachelors (1954) and masters
(1955) degrees from the University of Nebraska prior to serving in the U.S.
Army Chemical Corps. He then continued his education at Cornell University,
where he earned his Ph.D. in 1960, working with Dr. Charles Henderson.
Continuing his career at Cornell, he first served as a research geneticist
before transitioning to a tenure-track position; he was promoted to full
professor in 1973. While a student, he married Delores (Dee) who would be
his wife of 55 years (d. 2013). Along with his career, he also built his
family, which included daughter Elizabeth, son John, and later
granddaughter, Audrey.
Dales first retirement was in 1988 when he transitioned to emeritus faculty
at Cornell and became a research geneticist with the USDA Meat Animal
Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. His position at US MARC included
an appointment as professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Although
his second official retirement was in 2007, he never truly retired. Until
COVID, he continued to go to the office daily and actively contributed to
research and student training. He persistently investigated new ideas
related to animal breeding and genetics, asked insightful questions at
student seminars, and always kept a stockpile of Little Debbie snack cakes
nearby.
Known for developing pioneering methods that improved and expedited animal
evaluation, his greatest legacy is through his training of young
scientists. Dale formally advised 52 Ph.D. and 39 M.S. students, and 77
research associates. Over half of these mentees came from one of 33
countries outside of the U.S. His memory was unmatched he could recall not
only details about scientific studies, but of each of his students
interests, the grade they earned in the courses he taught, and their career
paths. He continued correspondence with many long after their training was
complete.
Dr. Van Vlecks body of work was remarkable, comprising 14 books (including
The Green Book), 11 book chapters, 376 peer-reviewed publications, and 377
proceedings and abstracts. Although he was never one to brag, the list of
awards Dr. Van Vleck earned is long, including recognition as a Fellow of
the American Society of Animal Science (1999), Beef Improvement Federation
Pioneer Award (2002), the ASAS Morrison Award (2005), and induction into
the ARS Science Hall of Fame (2010).
Dale was generous, kind, brilliant, and humble. He will be missed.
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