Remembering Dr. Margaret Clark
Friday, April 17, 2020
On April 19, 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed killing 168 people, injuring hundreds more, and changing the lives of even more. One of those lives changed was that of Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, beef cattle extension specialist and director of continuing education at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She lost her mother in the bombing – Margaret “Peggy” Clark, DVM. Clark earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1978. Biggs followed in her mother’s footsteps and earned her DVM degree from OSU in 2004.
“My mother initially worked for Dr. Bill Foster (OSU CVM 1968) in the Norman area in a strictly equine practice,” said Biggs. “My father’s family also had a running horse operation and she was involved there as well. Later she worked for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and then for Blue Ribbon Downs as their racetrack test veterinarian. She followed that with some teaching at the community college level and at Career Tech. Finally, she ended up with the United States Department of Agriculture with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services, which was housed in the Murrah building.
“I think one of her greatest strengths, of course, is as a mom. I probably recognize that now more as I am a mom. Just being there for her family at all times and putting us first, encouraging us to do our best. As far as a veterinarian, I think she was a really strong, capable veterinarian. There were not that many female veterinarians in that graduation class range and so she was a great example for all veterinarians and in particular female veterinarians of doing a great job and kind of pushing the boundaries in some ways.”
Biggs went with Dr. Clark on calls fairly regularly.
“For me it was a great example of what I wanted to be when I grew up. A bit of an idol for kids who wanted to be veterinarians, she was working in a field that she loved and really embracing the profession and all the diversity that can come with the profession. I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian as a little kid. I actually have a picture of me as an infant in an OSU Vet Med onesie so it was very early in life when I made that decision.
“My mother cultivated that interest, certainly not demanding that be the steps I would take, but encouraging that interest. She involved us with veterinary medicine. We regularly tagged along to various Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association meetings. She served on the board of examiners as well. I remember going to that office and watching her take care of those responsibilities too.
While Clark knew her daughter Rosslyn wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, she didn’t necessarily give her advice on how to survive veterinary college.
“As far as veterinary school itself, no specific advice other than to really go out and do whatever you chose to do and do it well. To do it with 100 percent effort and be passionate about your work.
“One of my favorite memories about her and veterinary medicine is her introducing me to Dr. Brian Espe (OSU DVM 1961). He was one of my mother’s mentors and later he hired her to work for the USDA. That’s one of my bridging memories because he later served as a mentor for me and encouraged me along that path as well at one point.
“I want folks to know about my mom. I want folks to remember those who were lost on April 19—all those who were lost and all those who were impacted on that day. The one thing that I think is important as far as her legacy goes from a veterinary profession standpoint is setting the standard for me to compare my work, to do the best for your family, and enjoy life. I think that for my family, my dad and my two sisters, Blayne and Chelsea, it means a lot that anyone takes the time to remember. Certainly Oklahomans do. Our friends from our various activities across the nation take the time, too. It’s just a little piece that she’s still here with us and her legacy lives on with me, my sisters, and her grandchildren.”
April 19, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the worst terrorist attack to take place on U.S. soil before September 11, 2001.