After 23 years as Director of the Purdue ADDL, Dr. Leon Thacker is stepping down from that   position as of August 1, 2008.

An Indiana native, Dr. Thacker  earned his DVM at the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine in 1965.  After 7 years in private practice in   Kentucky, he returned to graduate school at   Purdue to study veterinary pathology, completing his PhD in 1976 and, in 1977, became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.  He  became Assistant Director of the Purdue ADDL in 1978 and continued in that position until he was appointed Director in 1985.

During his tenure, Dr. Thacker has served on countless community, university, state, and     national committees including a term as President of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, a national association for veterinary pathologists.  AAVLD is also the accrediting body for diagnostic labs nationwide and Dr. Thacker served as Chairman of theAccreditation Committee of that organization for 10 years.

His many  honors and awards include the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, the PUSVM Distinguished Alumnus award, the Raymond E. Plue  Outstanding Teacher Award. the PUSVM Award for Excellence in Engagement, the IndianaVeterinary Medical Association Veterinary Service Award, the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association President's Award, and the AAVLD Pope Memorial Award.

Instrumental in planning and securing the new  ADDL building, one of his proudest  moments was realized at the dedication of the new West  Lafayette facility in 1991.

We look forward to many more years of his  expertise, his humor, his dedication, and his   commitment to ADDL staff and clients.