By Tuskegee University Newsroom,
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) announced it has received a $5,000 gift from alumnus Dr. David E. Brooks and the Lumbee Veterinarians in honor of the college’s trailblazer, Dr. Ellis Madison Hall.
The gift from Brooks, a 1978 alumnus is aimed at advancing the legacy and mission of the College on behalf of the Lumbee Veterinarians.
“Words will never express the level of gratitude I have for Dr. Hall, whom I will always consider as one of my role models in the veterinary profession as well as the Father of the Lumbee Veterinarians,” explained Brooks.
“He changed not only my trajectory but the path of many Lumbee Indians in this nation by introducing the world of veterinary medicine and the vast opportunities in the veterinary profession. His guidance allowed me to succeed in obtaining a DVM and opening a clinical practice,” he continued.
Additionally, the tribute from the Lumbee Indians and Brooks to TUCVM is especially meaningful as Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college, considers Hall her mentor and credits him to leading her into the field of veterinary radiology.
“The passing of Dr. Hall was the loss of another giant who left an imprint on the lives of so many veterinary graduates from Tuskegee University. Dr. Hall was a remarkable man and an excellent teacher. He was especially noted by all who knew and loved him for his life philosophy, ‘stay in his Master’s will and do the right thing,” Perry emphasized.
The late Dr. Ellis M. Hall is a 1956 alumnus, first African American veterinary radiologist, professor emeritus, and retired faculty member, who was credited with being the “Father of the Lumbee Veterinarians” due to his efforts in helping the Lumbee Indians of Robeson County. Hall’s recruitment trip to Pembroke State University in 1973 allowed Lumbee Indian students to receive admission into the veterinary school at Tuskegee University in which Brooks was among those selected.
Brooks is also considered a trailblazer for being the first Lumbee Indian veterinarian, and for over ten years, the first and only Lumbee Indian to own and operate a clinical veterinary practice. Brooks is the co-founder and principal donor of the Dr. Ellis Hall Scholarship for Native Americans at Tuskegee University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (endowed since 2005).
