CALF_News_April_May_2018

36 CALF News • April | May 2018 • www.calfnews.net By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor “I am a better person because of Dean Hawkins.” Lance Keith’s comment in early March summarized the feelings of those who paid homage to Dr. Dean Hawkins. Dean passed on Feb. 27 after losing a battle with cancer. But it wasn’t without a fight and continued love for his family and friends and dedication to the West Texas (WT) A&M University College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, for which he was dean since 2015. At his funeral at First Methodist Church of Canyon, the sanctuary was full, as was an auxiliary chapel. Hun- dreds of friends and family paid their respects. They laughed and cried over “Hawkinsisms,” stories remembered by his close friend, Jason Bruemmer, and his pastor, the Rev. Rick Enns. Dean’s heart and soul were devoted to his family,WT and the Panhandle-area ag community. He was a prime reason WT’s Animal Science Department has excelled in the nation’s beef industry. His drive to help establish the newWTA&M Agricultural Sciences Complex, well under construction in Canyon, made this $50 million development a star in the university’s reputation as a leader in beef research and southwestern agriculture. Dean Earl Hawkins was Texas Panhandle through and through. He was born in Groom and grew up in Clarendon. He attended Clarendon College and earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science and his master’s degree in animal breeding from Texas Tech University. He later earned a doctor- ate in physiology of reproduction and growth from Texas A&M University and completed an NIH post-doctoral fellow- ship at Colorado State University. In 1992, he began his career as an animal science professor at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces. He was there until 2009 when he joined WT as Agricultural Sciences department head. In 2015, he became the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. It was at NMSU that he met Jaye Erin Bearden. They were married in 1995. Together they raised twin daughters, Hannah Bryce and Callie Dean. He considered that his greatest and most treasured personal accomplishment. As an animal scientist, he received the Western Section, American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Young Scientist Award and served on the ASAS board. Many sought after his knowledge of beef cattle. He served as a reproductive con- sultant for several ranches in Arizona, Wyoming, Mexico and New Mexico. His work also took him to Mexico, China and he even gave a speech in Dubai. He was proud of his students, faculty, staff and administrative teams and all they accomplished during his tenure. And his leadership skills brought excite- ment to NMSU and later WT. He was honored to have had a role in acquiring funding for the newWTAMU Agricul- ture Complex, due to open this fall. Under his leadership, the past few years saw the WT Animal Science Department successfully clone an Angus-cross named Alpha and three heifers, all from Prime-grade carcasses. This remarkable development in beef cattle production has huge potential for higher quality beef. Most recently, he was instrumental in the naming of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Friends and colleagues have described him as leader who continued to have students and their futures at the top of his list. “Dean saw value and good in every person, and he believed in helping others find ways to contribute and to be successful,” said Dr. David Lust, WT associate professor.“Dean was a fearless advocate for the things he believed in, and he unapologetically believed in stu- dents, in good people, and in WTAMU agriculture. Dean’s was a life well lived, a race well run. He has been an example to all who knew him.” “Dean, you were a gifted scientist, but even more so, a gifted leader and commu- nicator with one-line statements always appropriate for the situation, invoking common sense and humor, whichever was needed most,” added Texas Cattle Feeders Association CEO RossWilson.“We were truly inspired by your courage and are all better and wiser for having known you. Always the caring herdsman, God will be pleased with your assistance.” In his comments, Lance Keith noted, “Dean has taken the Department of Agricultural Sciences to a level that very few thought imaginable or even possible in such a short time. I will be forever grateful for this leadership and friend- ship. I am a better person because of Dean Hawkins.” His endless love for his family mat- tered most. And from his efforts at being everything from a rodeo clown, to enhancing WT’s ability to educate future leaders of crop and livestock production and other agribusiness, Dean never stopped believing in a better future for WT, its students and southwestern agriculture. “Dean had no bucket list. He had done it all and had no regrets,” Bruemmer said. RIP, Dr. Dean.  Dean Hawkins, Ph.D. 1961-2018 WTA&M, Panhandle Community Mourn His Loss, Celebrate His Life