11-21-95

Contacts:
Richard Ross, Veterinary Medicine, (515) 294-1250
Steve Jones, News Service, (515) 294-4778

MOON NAMED TO VETERINARY MEDICINE POSITION

AMES, Iowa -- The former director of the National Animal Disease 
Center in Ames and "one of the world's leading veterinary 
scholars" is joining the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty at 
Iowa State University.

Harley W. Moon, a member of the prestigious National Academy of 
Sciences, is the first to hold the Frank K. Ramsey Chair in 
Veterinary Medicine. 

Moon, who studies bacterial diseases in livestock, will have a 
major impact on the College of Veterinary Medicine's efforts to 
support the Iowa livestock industry, said Richard Ross, dean of 
the college.

"Having Dr. Moon on the faculty will help us to attract more funds 
for research on current livestock problems, especially in food 
safety areas," Ross said. "It also will impact our ability to 
attract outstanding young faculty and graduate students who will 
want to work with him."

Ross added that Moon is one of the world's foremost scientists in 
the study of e coli diseases in animals.

"We feel very fortunate to attract a scientist of Dr. Moon's 
caliber and international reputation to Iowa State University," 
said Iowa State University President Martin Jischke.  "We believe 
he is the only working veterinary researcher in the National 
Academy of Sciences who is involved in disease research in the 
three major livestock areas of swine, cattle and poultry."

The Ramsey chair endowment was created with more than $1 million 
in private contributions from 700 ISU alumni and friends. 

Endowed chairs are highly prestigious positions that enhance a 
university's ability to attract and retain the best scholars, Ross 
added. The endowment provides a perpetual source of revenue to 
supplement college support for the teaching and research 
activities of the faculty member who holds the endowed chair.

Frank Ramsey died in 1992 after serving as a veterinary medicine 
faculty member for 34 years. He was head of veterinary pathology 
from 1957 to 1975. After retiring as a distinguished professor, he 
continued to serve the college by raising private funds for the 
college endowment fund. He earned his D.V.M. and Ph.D. degrees 
from Iowa State in 1946 and 1955, respectively.

"Dr. Moon knew Dr. Ramsey very well, and they had a great deal of 
respect for each other," Ross explained. "Dr. Ramsey would be 
extremely pleased to know someone of Dr. Moon's stature is 
assuming the chair that bears his name."

Ross said Moon has been an active member of livestock producer 
organizations, including the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and the 
National Cattlemen's Association.

Moon has been director of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, 
Greenport, N.Y., since February. Plum Island is a U.S. Department 
of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service facility that 
specializes in foreign animal diseases.

Moon served the National Animal Disease Center, also a USDA-ARS 
facility, from 1974 until February of this year. He was named 
center director in 1988.

All three of Moon's degrees are from the University Minnesota -- a 
B.S. in 1958, D.V.M. in 1960 and Ph.D. in 1965.

Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1991, Moon is one 
of eight current or former Iowa State researchers to hold the 
honor.