Dr. Herbert Justus Named 2020 OSU Distinguished Alumnus

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Herbert A. Justus, DVM, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, was recently named a 2020 Distinguished Alumnus by the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A 1956 graduate of the veterinary college, Justus has given much to the profession and his community throughout the years.

Following his graduation with honors, Dr. Justus served two years in the U.S. Army as a food safety officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. From 1960 to 2008, he owned and operated four veterinary hospitals in North Carolina. During that time, he served ten years on the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board, a governor appointed position, two terms as vice president and one term as president. In 1988, the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association honored Justus for his service awarding him the Distinguished Veterinarian Award.

At age 80 in 2009, Justus accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work as a public health veterinarian for the Food Safety Inspection Service at the Tyson plant in Vienna, Georgia. He retired in 2017.

Throughout his career Justus was active in organized veterinary medicine serving as president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association in 1993. He also served as president and all chairs of the North Carolina Continuing Education Academy and the Western North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. He was a founding member of the Western North Carolina Emergency Clinic.

Justus also supported his community serving on the County Commission for Henderson County for two elected terms. During his tenure he established the county’s first Emergency Medical Service, which became a model for the state. He is also a Rotary International member. Justus generously shared his knowledge and expertise mentoring many young veterinarians including Dr. John Freeman (OSU CVM ’64), past-president of the American Veterinary Medical Association and OSU CVM Distinguished Alumnus (’00). Justus is credited with being the first veterinarian in western North Carolina to perform back surgery, which allowed paralyzed animals to walk again. He diagnosed the first case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a dog and published an article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association about a dog suffering from seizures.

Dr. Justus is married to Jane Ann Erwin Justus. They have seven children and 14 grandchildren. Justus is one of three alumni who will be honored at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Distinguished Alumni Award Luncheon scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2020.

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