Loafmann Named Distinguished Alumnus
Monday, September 19, 2016
Thomas G. Loafmann, DVM, of Glencoe, Mo., was recently named a 2016 Distinguished Alumnus of Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Loafmann earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1963 and serves as the class representative.
Loafmann owns and operates Equine Medical Associates, Inc., one of the first equine medical and surgical clinics in the St. Louis, Mo., area. He still practices today, doing ambulatory calls and specializing in dentistry.
Born in Clayton, N.M., Loafmann grew up in Oklahoma graduating from Prague High School as valedictorian. He earned a BS in Agriculture (’61) and a DVM degree (’63) from OSU. He worked in a mixed animal practice and then served in the Army Veterinary Corps from 1966 to 1968. Soon after his discharge, he established his own equine only practice in 1968.
An active member of organized veterinary medicine his entire career, Loafmann is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (’63), Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (’65) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (’69). He has served in leadership roles and has published a book on equine hospital planning and construction. He has also taught Equine Science and Health Care at St. Louis Community College.
Throughout his career, Dr. Loafmann has mentored 93 pre-veterinary volunteers, 43 veterinary student externs and 37 graduate interns. As a class representative, he has spent countless hours during the last 53 years keeping his classmates connected and organizing class reunions. He is known as ‘the glue that keeps us together.’
He was instrumental in establishing the Class of 1963 Endowed Distinguished Lectureship with his classmates. The endowment provides opportunities for faculty, students and practitioners to interact with eminent scholars, speakers and leaders of national and international reputation in biomedical research, veterinary science and medicine each year during Fall Conference.
Loafmann’s impact carries outside of his immediate client base. He has served on missions to the Navajo Indian Reservation (’77, ’78), Cheyenne Indian Reservation (’81), Bolivia (’84, ’85) and Mongolia (’02, ’06, ’13). He was instrumental in conceiving and implementing a continuing education program for Mongolian veterinarians that has substantially raised the level of veterinary medical expertise and practice in Mongolia.
He has been married to Fredda-Lois for 52 years. They have a son, Thomas G. Loafmann, Jr., a daughter, Beth Renee Pawley, and four grandchildren. He is dedicated to his family and the Quest Evangelical Free Church where he is a member and serves on the Elder Board. He is known for his work ethic, his dedication to his clients and to the well-being of their horses. He goes above and beyond the call of duty and has truly had a positive impact on the profession of veterinary medicine.
Loafmann will be honored at a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 14, at 11:30 a.m. in the Wes Watkins Center located on the OSU Stillwater campus. Tickets may be purchased on the veterinary center’s Fall Conference website under the menu selection for Alumni Events Only. The luncheon is open to anyone who wishes to celebrate Dr. Loafmann’s success.