Executive Veterinary Program room at University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine named for K.T. Wright and his wife, Betty.

December 11, 2019

4 Min Read
K.T. Wright, Joe Connor and Peter Constable after Wright and his wife, Betty, were honored by having the Executive Veterinary
K.T. Wright (left), Joe Connor and Peter Constable (right) after Wright and his wife, Betty, were honored by having the Executive Veterinary Program room at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine named after them.University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

On Dec. 5, Kenneth "K.T." Wright thought he was attending an event at which his long-time business partner and friend Joe Connor would receive an award from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Instead, he himself was the surprise guest of honor at a celebration attended by dozens of swine practitioners and leaders in the field.

Dean Peter Constable announced that the college was honoring Wright and his wife, Betty Wright, by naming the "EVP room" after them.

For nearly 30 years the Executive Veterinary Program has been at the forefront of post-graduate skill development for veterinarians, focusing on leadership, communications, management and data analysis. More than 200 veterinarians from 16 states and three countries have completed the Swine EVP curriculum, learning from subject matter experts and each other in the seminar room now bearing the Wright name.

At the Dec. 5 celebration, nearly 40 swine veterinarians currently enrolled in the seventh offering of Swine EVP were in attendance. LeRoy Biehl, the emeritus professor who conceived and launched EVP in 1991, was also on hand to acknowledge Kenneth Wright's contributions.

K.T. Wright, center, surrounded by (clockwise from left) LeRoy Biehl, Jim Lowe, Larry Firkins, and Betty Wright, K.T.'s wife, at the Dec. 5 event.

An influential career
In recounting the many highlights of Wright's impact on swine medicine, Connor notes, "Over the years, he's influenced many, many veterinarians within the profession. In 1991, he received the AASV (American Association of Swine Veterinarians) Meritorious Service Award, the first to be so honored."

Connor also shared anecdotes from his partnership and friendship with Wright, including the persuasive means by which Wright saw to it that Connor got involved in the AASV.

"The very first year, I told him, 'K.T., I've got a lot of stuff to do. I really can't go to that AASV meeting.' He said, 'I'm driving, you're coming.'

"I don't think there's a more fitting honor than to have the University of Illinois name the EVP seminar room after K.T. Wright," says Connor. "I know the younger practitioners here tonight will see over time what he's meant for us.

"K.T., I want to say again: we're standing on the shoulders of a giant, and you are that giant. Thank you."

Heartfelt response
"I've been very fortunate to have many good and dear friends in the veterinary profession," says Wright in his response. "I've had two excellent business partners in Joe Connor and Jack Coleman, both EVP grads.

"My family connection with the University of Illinois goes back many, many years. My father was the ninth of 10 sons from a farm family near Peoria. And my grandparents sent six of those 10 sons to the University of Illinois.

"I had to do one of the toughest things I ever had to do this June 30: I had to retire from practice. I dearly loved the clients, and dearly loved all of the pets and the animals that I dealt with.

"It's certainly an honor to be recognized by your peers," he concludes. "Thank you very much."

Lifetime of achievements
In 1962, Wright completed his veterinary degree at the University of Illinois and began practicing veterinary medicine in Blandinsville, Ill., where he remained in practice until earlier this year. More than 30 Wright family members have attended the University of Illinois, including his parents.

K.T. and Betty have established multiple scholarships and funds at the university, including a student scholarship and swine research fund at the College of Veterinary Medicine. He also serves as the chair of the college's "With Illinois" fundraising campaign.

In 2017, Wright received the Heritage Award from the AASV Foundation, becoming only the third to be so recognized for lifelong outstanding achievements in swine veterinary medicine. By coincidence, Connor was recently asked to deliver the pig statue that accompanies the Heritage Award to Wright. Wright had inadvertently received a smaller statue in 2017, so Connor was able to present the correct version to him at the Dec. 5 celebration. (The photo at the top of this article shows Wright holding that statue while seated next to Connor and Constable.)

In 2005, Wright received the Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and its alumni association.

Source: University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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