Kansas City Veterinary Medical Association

Built on the Shoulders of Veterinary Giants

Veterinary Leaders in Kansas City (Part Four of Six)

A Dynamic Champion of the Veterinary Practitioner

by Steve Joseph DVM – Historian

This year’s historical articles consider veterinary leaders who have made their mark in Kansas City and nationally. All were Presidents of the AVMA.

In this issue we look at the contributions of the fourth President associated with Kansas City, Abner H. Quin (1896 – 1970). He preferred to be called “Ab”. Dr. Quin has been described as a “common sense, direct and assertive veterinarian”. He got his point across with colorful language. Simply stated, he was an LBJ sort of a guy.

Dr. Quin graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College in 1920 and entered private practice in Iowa. Later, he was involved with Foot and Mouth Disease in California with the government. He worked with Fort Dodge Animal Heath as a field veterinarian and later was Vice President of Jensen – Salsbery Laboratories in midtown Kansas City in a building listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Although his practice experience was limited, Dr. Quin was a dynamic champion of the private veterinary practitioner. It has been said that he was a dedicated mentor of younger veterinarians. However, it was his tough love approach to these youthful practitioners that helped to build great character in them.

Like other AVMA Presidents from Kansas City, Dr. Quin was a prolific writer and speaker. He penned a regular column in Veterinary Medicine titled “Quin’s Corner” where he took on medical issues as well as other issues of the day (much like RMM) that impacted veterinarians young and old.

In 1951, he received the AVMA Outstanding Service to the Profession Award. Later, he was named Missouri Veterinarian of the Year in 1958. Dr. Quin served as AVMA President from 1954 to 1955.

Dr. Quin died in Florida in 1970 after retiring from a distinguished career in veterinary medicine. He was 74.

A few months ago, this column carried an article about Dr. “Mac” McCann titled Memoirs of a 93-Year-Old Vet. Well, Dr. McCann is now 94 and is carrying on an active life in Leawood, KS. In that article, I wrote that Dr. McCann was the oldest of three living graduates from the Iowa State University CVM Class of 1947. Since then, the other two classmates have passed away. Dr. McCann was able to visit his best friend in the class who lived in Oregon before his classmate’s death.

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