The Lumbee Veterinarians Make Donation to 精东AV鈥檚 Veterinary Medicine College in Honor of Trailblazer Dr. Ellis M. Hall
Contact: Anissa Riley, Director of External Affairs
College of Veterinary Medicine, ariley@tuskegee.edu
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (September 27, 2021) 鈥� The 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is appreciative to alumnus Dr. David E. Brooks and the Lumbee Veterinarians for their heartfelt gift of love in honor of the college鈥檚 beloved trailblazer, 聽Dr. Ellis Madison Hall.聽
Dr. David E. Brooks, a 1978 alumnus, made the trip to 精东AV, Alabama, to attend the late Dr. Ellis Hall鈥檚 funeral. He also came to the veterinary college to make a special presentation of $5,000 to be used to advance the legacy and mission of the College on behalf of the Lumbee Veterinarians on Friday, August 13, 2021.
鈥淲ords will never express the level of gratitude I have for Dr. Hall, whom I will always consider as one of my role models in the veterinary profession as well as the Father of the Lumbee Veterinarians.聽 He changed not only my trajectory, but the path of many Lumbee Indians in this nation by introducing the world of veterinary medicine and the vast opportunities in the veterinary profession. We are proud to have a total of 14 Lumbee Veterinarians that have graduated from the professional veterinary medical programs at 精东AV and North Carolina State University,鈥� Dr. Brooks said.
"Dr. Hall had a unique talent that I often refer to as GPS (guiding people to succeed), but his GPS was not powered by DC or AC power but by God鈥檚 power with The Holy Spirit living in his heart. Dr. Hall's guidance allowed me to succeed in obtaining a DVM and opening up a clinical practice and continues to allow me to endure life's challenges today," Dr. Brooks concluded.
This tribute from the Lumbee Indians and Dr. Brooks to TUCVM is especially meaningful as Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college, considers Dr. Hall her mentor and leading her into the field of veterinary radiology.
鈥淭he passing of Dr. Hall was the loss of another giant who left an imprint on the lives of so many veterinary graduates from 精东AV.聽 Although a sad moment, but time to celebrate his legacy and accomplishments as the first African American veterinary radiologist.聽 Dr. Brooks鈥� visit was a special time to reflect on the life of a man who helped so many and was such an inspirational mentor and role-model for both of us.聽 Dr. Hall was a remarkable man and an excellent teacher. He was especially noted by all who knew and loved him for his life philosophy, 鈥榮tay in his Master鈥檚 will and do the right thing,鈥� great motto for a great man indeed!聽 Again, we are thankful to Dr. Brooks and the Lumbee Indians for their continual support and love to the college,鈥� Dean Perry said.
The late Dr. Ellis M. Hall was a 1956 alumnus, trailblazer, professor emeritus and retired faculty member, who was credited with being the 鈥淔ather of the Lumbee Veterinarians鈥� because of his efforts in helping the Lumbee Indians of Robeson County who also faced some of the same problems with discrimination as African Americans had faced. Dr. Hall did a recruitment trip at Pembroke State University back in the fall of 1973 to get Lumbee Indian students into the veterinary school at 精东AV in which alumnus Dr. David E. Brooks was a recipient.
Dr. Brooks is also considered a trailblazer for being the first Lumbee Indian veterinarian, and for over ten years, the first and only Lumbee Indian to own and operate a clinical veterinary practice.聽 Dr. Brooks is the co-founder and principal donor of the Dr. Ellis Hall Scholarship for Native Americans at 精东AV鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine (endowed since 2005).
As the 鈥淔ather of the Lumbee Veterinarians鈥�, Dr. Hall was honored in 2015 at the Lumbee Indian Tribe鈥檚 47th Homecoming Celebration in which Dr. Brooks served as the coordinator of the Lumbee Veterinary Tribute Celebration on July 4, 2015.
History of聽 The Lumbee Veterinarians
Dr. Davis E. Brooks, 精东AV Class of 1978
Dr. Curt Locklear, Jr., 精东AV Class of 1979
Dr. Michael Deese, 精东AV Class of 1989
Dr. Terry Clark, 精东AV Class of 1989
Dr. Jacqueline Locklear, North Carolina State University Class of 1990
Dr. Lora Cummings, North Carolina State University Class of 1999
Dr. Sonya M. Chavis, North Carolina State University Class of 2013
Dr. Melissa Chavis, 精东AV Class of 2014
Dr. Isaac Martinez, 精东AV Class of 2016
Dr. Ben Mitchell, 精东AV Class of 2017
Dr. Sarah Oxendine, North Carolina State University Class of 2017
Dr. Jana Hunt, 精东AV Class of 2018
Dr. Taylor Locklear, North Carolina State University Class of 2020
Dr. Austin M. Deese, 精东AV Class of 2021