Dr. W. Eugene Lloyd's ('49 DVM, '70 PhD) with Iowa State University and the College of Veterinary Medicine that goes back to his years as a veterinary student at Iowa State. That relationship has grown even stronger after graduation for Gene and his wife, Linda, and they became one of Iowa State's most supportive couples.
Gene attended Iowa State after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. After earning his DVM, he was in private veterinary practice until 1958, when he established VET-A-MIX/Lloyd Laboratories in Shenandoah, Iowa, near his hometown of Red Oak. Today, the company is Lloyd, Inc., which has become a highly successful developer and manufacturer of pharmaceutical and nutritional products for animals and humans, and has received the small business administration's U.S. Exporter of the Year award. Gene served as chairman and CEO, and Linda was the quality assurance assistant.
After starting the company, Gene attended graduate school at Iowa State part-time over the next several years, earning a PhD. He joined the faculty at Iowa State in 1974 as a professor of pathology and was in charge of veterinary toxicology. He remained in that position until 1984.
The Lloyds were the lead donors in the expansion and renovation of the veterinary teaching hospital, the largest facility project since the College of Veterinary Medicine facility was constructed in the mid-1970s. That gift is one of many they have provided to Iowa State and the College of Veterinary Medicine, as they also established the W. Eugene and Linda R. Lloyd Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, the W. Eugene Lloyd Chair in Toxicology and the Lloyd Fund for Veterinary Medicine.
Gene and Linda both have served as an ISU Foundation Governor. The Lloyds are members of the Order of the Knoll President's Circle, have served on two capital campaign committees and on the College of Veterinary Medicine Dean's Advisory Committee. Gene received the Outstanding Service Award from the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, was cited by the Iowa Farm Bureau in its 150th anniversary program, "Iowans Who Made a Difference," and was cited as one of 28 leaders in Veterinary Medicine in the United States during the mid-20th century.
Gene is a recipient of the Stange Award from the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Alumni Association.