High honor: CVM honors four alumni with awards
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Media Contact: Kinsey Reed | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-6740 | cvmcommunications@okstate.edu
The Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine named Drs. David VonTungeln, Jeffery Hall and Meredyth Jones-Cook its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, and Dr. Trey Kraft as its Recent Graduate Alumni Award winner.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is selected and presented by the OSU CVM Alumni Society in recognition of outstanding professional and personal achievements and contributions to the enhancement of the veterinary profession. The recipients were honored at the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award Luncheon on October 30, 2025.
Kneading Kindness
On any given day in Calumet, Oklahoma, you’ll likely find Dr. David VonTungeln tending cattle on his family’s century-old farm or lending a hand in his community.
A fifth-generation farmer and rancher as well as a veterinarian, VonTungeln has spent more than four decades bridging the worlds of agriculture and veterinary medicine.
From pioneering livestock health research at the USDA’s Grazinglands Research Laboratory to shaping agricultural policy as a leader in the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, his career has been defined by service — to his profession, his state and his neighbors.
That lifelong commitment makes him one of Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni.
Before enrolling at OSU, VonTungeln served in the Navy and attended Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1978 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1983.
After graduation, VonTungeln became the first veterinarian hired at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory. In that role, he contributed to advancements in livestock health, animal welfare and forage utilization for beef operations — years ahead of today’s grass-fed movement — and the sustainability of soil and plant resources.
On his own initiative, VonTungeln made repeated trips to Washington, D.C., where he met with lawmakers to stress the importance of agriculture and veterinary medicine, with a special focus on rural veterinary practice.
VonTungeln is held in high regard by his classmates, colleagues and friends.
“He is a greatly respected man with the highest level of virtue and professionalism, a man of action and a man of his word,” said Kenneth Kirlin, David Henderson, Stephen Hopkins and Michael Sealock, 1983 OSU CVM classmates. “The OSU CVM should be very proud of David’s accomplishments.”
Steve Thompson, director of public policy for the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, spoke of VonTungeln’s unwavering commitment to veterinary medicine, agriculture and community service.
“Dr. VonTungeln was a generous mentor, advisor and role model to me during my time as vice president of public policy at Oklahoma Farm Bureau,” Thompson said. “His strong leadership and calm demeanor helped guide our team through many difficult issues at the State Capitol. He truly embodies the Cowboy spirit — committed to service, integrity and excellence.”
His record of service includes an appointment by Gov. Mary Fallin to the Redlands Community College Board of Regents in 2016, as well as membership in the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants.
Beyond his professional and civic leadership, VonTungeln and his wife, Maribeth, are known for their generosity and service to others. Carrying on a tradition he learned from his parents, the couple are avid bread makers who have donated thousands of loaves to local charities. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they baked 60 loaves every two weeks to help feed elderly residents receiving food boxes. Each Thanksgiving, they provide 250 loaves for community food baskets.
Their children, Amanda and Matt, both OSU graduates, and their spouses, along with grandchildren Hayden and Drake, remain closely involved in family life, reflecting a legacy of service and community care.
VonTungeln reflected on the significance of the award.
“I’ve received awards before, but this one is especially meaningful to me because it came from my peers — people I went to school with, people I know and respect,” VonTungeln said. “To be recognized by them was truly an honor, and I was thrilled.”
As a veterinarian, farmer, leader and servant to his community, VonTungeln has lived out the values instilled in him from an early age — hard work, humility and a commitment to helping others.
Whether in the field with his cattle, the laboratory advancing animal health, or the community kneading loaves of bread to share with neighbors, his life reflects a deep devotion to people and animals.
Riding High
Dr. Jeffery Hall’s expertise in veterinary toxicology has taken him from Stillwater to classrooms, labs and lecture halls worldwide.
Now, the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine is honoring the 1987 graduate with its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.
“I actually had my eyes set on medicine and science since a very young age,” Hall said. “When I was in the second grade, my teacher said, ‘Based on what you do in class today, I know that someday you’ll be a scientific farmer.’”
That prediction wasn’t far off. Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from OSU in 1984, followed by his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. He then pursued advanced training at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, completing an internship and residency in clinical, diagnostic and experimental toxicology before earning his Ph.D. in toxicology.
“I actually spent a lot of my time when I was in undergrad and veterinary school, working a full-time job to be able to afford to go to school,” Hall said. “I worked as a private investigator and insurance adjuster.”
Hall has been board-certified in veterinary toxicology since 1993 as a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. One of his most notable achievement came early in his career when he was the first to identify and describe Easter lily toxicosis in cats. He went on to publish and present his findings, providing guidance to veterinarians and internal medicine specialists.
He is recognized globally as a leading authority on vitamin and mineral nutrition and toxicology. During his career, he has published extensively and remains active as a reviewer for leading scientific journals, while also speaking at major veterinary conferences.
He has held leadership and committee roles in several veterinary associations, including the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the American Association of Veterinary and Comparative Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology.
“You can gain a lot of insight and knowledge by visually observing your surroundings, listening to people, processing information and then speaking when it’s important,” Hall said.
Colleagues say that commitment to careful observation and service sets him apart.
“I have experienced Jeff’s selfless service in search of answers to my questions. He takes each request, each lab accession, as a personal quest,” said Dr. Joe Roder, Huvepharma director of cattle technical services and OSU CVM alumnus. “He goes well beyond the results of the initial report, seeking truth that is often elusive in diagnostic medicine.”
Originally from Cement, Oklahoma, Hall has built a career that has taken him nationwide while leaving a lasting impact at every stop. In 1996, he joined Utah State University, where he advanced from assistant professor to full professor in the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences.
Today, he lives in Utah with his wife and family and serves as a cattle technical services veterinarian for Huvepharma, providing expertise in diagnostics, nutrition, producer education, regulatory affairs and adverse event investigations.
Hall’s career has always extended beyond the classroom and laboratory. Drawing on his bull-riding background, Hall began volunteering with the University of Illinois Rodeo Team and later served as head coach and advisor of the Utah State University Rodeo Club.
Colleagues say he thrived because of his genuine concern for the well-being of both student-athletes and their animals, encouraging responsibility, stewardship and teamwork.
“Dr. Jeff Hall has always radiated dedication and humility,” said Dr. Val Beasley, University of Illinois professor emeritus of veterinary, wildlife and ecological toxicology. “His students and his peers consistently rave about him.”
When Hall learned he had been named a Distinguished Alumni, he said the honor wasn’t just his own.
“The first thing I did was call my parents,” he said. “And then the next six calls I made were to people that I’d interacted with in my career that I wanted them to share in the good news, because one person doesn’t win an award. It’s the interaction of the people you associate with during your career that helps you achieve the things that you achieve.”
Hall’s many achievements — those listed here and countless others — make him an exceptional choice for the Distinguished Alumni Award.
“His scholarship, instruction and service have significantly advanced veterinary medical knowledge, strengthened the practice of veterinary medicine and improved animal health and well-being. Jeff is recognized as an expert who continues to make a tremendous impact — one producer, one veterinarian, one student at a time. He does all of this with a calm, steady ease — the OSU Cowboy Way,” Roder said.
A Teacher at Heart
Dr. Roger Panciera, a legendary Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member, once said, “A university’s faculty are of minor importance compared to its graduates, and it will be its graduates for which will be known.”
Dr. Meredyth Jones, a food animal practitioner, exemplifies Panciera’s goal.
Jones grew up in a household that bled orange. Her father, Mike Jones, earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from OSU in 1982. She graduated with her DVM in the spring of 2002. After graduation, Jones returned home to join her father in his mixed-animal practice.
Jones later returned to Stillwater to complete a large animal internal medicine residency, where the highly sought-after Dr. Bob Streeter mentored her.
“Dr. Streeter played an enormous role in my development,” Jones said. “In my opinion, Dr. Streeter is one of the best food animal internists.”
After completing her residency, Jones spent six years at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by another six years at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Throughout her time at both institutions, she left a lasting impact on the students and clients she served.
“During my time in Kansas and Texas, I never stopped wearing orange,” Jones said.
In 2018, Jones returned to Stillwater and joined the faculty as a large animal internist. Jones has a passion for teaching students and mentoring other food animal practitioners.
Jones has published more than 30 refereed papers and authored or co-authored over 40 book chapters. She regularly presents continuing education seminars at state, regional and national veterinary conferences. Along with supporting fellow practitioners, she has dedicated her career to serving large animal producers.
Jones is a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Medicine – Large Animal specialty board and is currently a professor of livestock medicine at Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
“She is perhaps the most knowledgeable large animal internist that I have known in my long career,” said Dr. Robert Smith, Veterinary Research and Consulting Services. “She is always ready to share her knowledge and experiences with others.”
A champion for other veterinarians, Jones founded Cowgirl Continuing Education Retreats — an organization that helps women in large animal medicine. Each year, 25-30 female veterinarians attend a four-day retreat on fellowship and continuing education.
“I am most proud of this organization because it creates a space for women across the profession to connect, share experiences and build lasting relationships,” Jones said.
The Cowboy Way
Those who know Dr. Trey Kraft best describe him as a rising star in veterinary medicine. Someone passionate, dedicated and already leaving their mark on the veterinary industry at such a young age.
Now, he has the award to back it up.
This year, Kraft, 32, is the Recent Graduate Alumni Award Winner.
Growing up in Paris, Texas, Kraft loved watching his dad fix animals of all shapes and sizes. Because of his passion for animals, Kraft joined 4-H in middle school and showed livestock until he graduated high school.
“I spent every day after school at our family’s mixed veterinary practice,” Kraft said.
After graduating from high school, Kraft moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he earned his undergraduate degree before being accepted into Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2020.
Kraft explained that his journey in veterinary school was not always easy, but having mentor support helped keep him on course.
“I think one notable aspect of my veterinary journey is that I was not an honors graduate from veterinary school,” Kraft said. “I had to work for every grade I received, and I would have loved to have achieved higher academic marks.”
While at the OSU CVM, Kraft made it his personal goal to be a lifelong learner. He also served his classmates as a class representative.
As an alumnus, Kraft’s dedication reaches far beyond the clinic walls. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Veterinary Medical Clinic Association and the Northeast Texas Veterinary Medical Association. Within these organizations, Kraft contributes his time and expertise to several committees. In addition, Kraft is the president of the OSU CVM Alumni Society.
Kraft’s leadership extends beyond veterinary organizations and into his broader community. He serves on the Young, Beginning and Small Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Board for AgTrust Farm Credit, which supports and finances young agriculturalists in Texas and New Mexico.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside Dr. Kraft on the OSU CVM Alumni Board and have seen firsthand the energy, dedication and generosity he brings to every endeavor,” said Dr. Craig Jones, past OSU CVM Alumni Society president.
Kraft’s impact on veterinary medicine has just started, and he’s already paved a path to be proud of. His contributions to the profession, leadership within multiple organizations and enduring service to the OSU CVM make him an exceptional doctor.
“Trey is Cowboy through and through and orange to the bone,” said Dr. Jerry Ritchey, OSU CVM interim dean. “He has accomplished so much at a young age, exemplified by experiences and wisdom that are usually only matched by people much older than him.”
Photos By: Bailey Horn
Stories By: Bailey Horn and Kinsey Reed | Vet Cetera Magazine